Turkish forces escalated their attacks on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, amid reports of possible Turkish offensive in Ain Al-Arab despite US rejection of any Turkish military operations in north of Syria.
On Wednesday, Turkish forces bombed SDF positions in the villages of Al-Muallaq, Saida, the vicinity of Ein Issa, and the Aleppo-Latakia International Road (M4), north of Raqqa.
A Turkish drone also targeted an SDF military vehicle, the second targeting of its kind in three days and the seventh since the beginning of January.
The Syrian Democratic Forces intensified security alongside the US forces in multiple bases in northeastern Syria.
The US-led international coalition has also sent new reinforcements to al-Hasakah.
The SDF commander, Mazlum Abdi, expected Türkiye to carry out a military operation targeting Ain Al-Arab next month. He ruled out any success of Russian efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus.
Abdi confirmed in an interview that the SDF "takes Türkiye's threats seriously". He noted that Türkiye is heading for elections and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to rally nationalist support because he believes that attacking Rojava again can serve this purpose.
The commander was confident the US would keep its pledge to remain in northeast Syria. However, Washington's efforts "are falling short," and they "need to do more”, he said.
He added: "We want peace. But should we be attacked, we will fight with all our might. We are determined to resist till the end," asserting that the Syrian Kurds, the SDF, and the Autonomous Administration want peaceful relations with Türkiye.
Abdi explained that when Türkiye decided to end the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Democratic People's Party and to "resume the conflict against the PKK in 2015, it also grew hostile against us."
He noted that Russia is trying to solve existing problems in Syria by bringing Türkiye and the Syrian regime around the same table.
"However, I do not believe such attempts can succeed," he indicated.
Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Türkiye would not allow the establishment of a "terrorist corridor" on its southern border, warning that it might push Syria into division.
Akar called on the US to end its cooperation with the People's Defense Units, which Ankara considers an extension of the PKK in Syria.
On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed, in a press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, that his country would not allow the establishment of a Kurdish entity on its borders.
Cavusoglu pointed out that the US and Russia still needed to fulfill their obligations under two understandings signed with Ankara.
Furthermore, the press secretary for the Department of Defense, Patrick Ryder, reiterated that Washington does not support any military operation in northern Syria.
"We've been very clear that any type of ground offensive into northern Syria could further destabilize the region and negatively impact the defeat of ISIS mission", Ryder asserted.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava) stressed the need to stop the Turkish attacks targeting civilians and service facilities in northern Syria.
During a meeting of its representatives with a Russian delegation, the SDF stressed the need for the Russian side to abide by its obligations towards the eastern Euphrates region.
The Russian delegation affirmed that Moscow continues efforts to reduce tension in northern and eastern Syria.
