SDF, Syrian Regime Agree on Defense Plan to Repel Turkish Attack

Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters take part in a military parade between the border towns of Qatmah and Azaz in the opposition-held northern part of the Aleppo province, on July 2, 2022. (AFP)
Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters take part in a military parade between the border towns of Qatmah and Azaz in the opposition-held northern part of the Aleppo province, on July 2, 2022. (AFP)
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SDF, Syrian Regime Agree on Defense Plan to Repel Turkish Attack

Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters take part in a military parade between the border towns of Qatmah and Azaz in the opposition-held northern part of the Aleppo province, on July 2, 2022. (AFP)
Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters take part in a military parade between the border towns of Qatmah and Azaz in the opposition-held northern part of the Aleppo province, on July 2, 2022. (AFP)

The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that it had agreed to a joint defense Russia-mediated plan with regime forces loyal to President Bashar Assad should Turkey launch an attack against northern Syria.

Turkey has for weeks been threatening to launch an operation against fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Syrian-Kurdish group it considers to be part of the PKK. The PKK is designated as terrorist by Ankara.

YPG spokesman Nouri Mahmoud said: “We are working and coordinating with Syrian officials to develop a defense plan to confront any Turkish aggression.”

He spoke of “positive developments” in this regard, adding that it was “pressing and vital” for the Syrian parties to agree on a final solution.

He called on the international coalition against ISIS, the United States and Russia to exert pressure on Turkey to prevent it from carrying out the offensive.

“We are in constant contact with the international coalition and Russia. We hope they will play an effective role in preserving the current relative stability and protecting the civilians in northeastern Syria,” said the spokesman.

The plan between the SDF and regime calls for forming a joint operations command room and exchanging field coordinates. It will allow the deployment of more regime forces in SDF regions.

Head of the SDF Media Center Farhad Shami described the agreement with the regime as more of a military understanding aimed at repelling any potential Turkish invasion.

In remarks to the press, he said 550 regime soldiers have arrived in SDF-held regions on Monday, effectively activating the understanding.

They deployed in the town of Ain Issa and the cities of al-Bab, Manbij and Ain al-Arab (Kobane).

The troops will fight alongside the SDF should Turkey go ahead with its threat to invade the area, added Shami.



Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill at Least 27 Palestinians

Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense remove debris as they search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense remove debris as they search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
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Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill at Least 27 Palestinians

Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense remove debris as they search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense remove debris as they search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight into Monday killed at least 27 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month. It has cut off the territory's 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March in what it says is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages.
The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza's most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.
An airstrike hit a home in Beit Lahiya, killing 10 people, including a Palestinian prisoner, Abdel-Fattah Abu Mahadi, who had been released as part of the ceasefire, The Associated Press reported. His wife, two of their children and a grandchild were also killed, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies.
Another strike hit a home in Gaza City, killing seven people, including two women, according to the Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service. Two other people were wounded.
Late Sunday, a strike hit a home in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing at least 10 people, including five siblings as young as 4 years old, according to the Health Ministry. Two other children were killed along with their parents, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.