Russia To Recognize Syrian Kurds. U.S. To Protect Them

Kurdish fighters near Qamishli, Syria, last year. The Syrian Kurds say their aim is to establish an autonomous region, not their own state, where their rights are protected, in whatever settlement comes from the long Syrian civil war. Credit Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria's Kurds Reassured by US Protection, Russian Recognition

Commander of the People's Protection Units (YPG) Sipan Hemo welcomed the statement delivered by the US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, saying that Washington will defend the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces against any attack waged by the Syrian government and prompted by Iran.

According to Hemo, the phase following the defeat of ISIS in east Syria is a transition from military victories to political recognition from the US-led coalition and Russia.

During his visit to Moscow, Hemo was informed by some Russian officers that the Kurdish self-administrations will call for a Syrian national dialogue congress in Sochi, which will gradually establish a federal Syria. His visit came as a response to an invitation from Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu to celebrate the victory against ISIS.

Syrian Democratic Forces, whose mainstay is People's Protection Units, succeeded in establishing balance between two international coalitions. It first liberated regions in the east of Euphrates from ISIS, with the support of the US-led coalition. Then, it formed a joint operations chambers with the Russian army in Deir ez-Zor.

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WNU Editor: If the above report is true, this is a huge political victory for the Syrian Kurds. Russian recognition and U.S. promises to protect them is more than what they expected .... Washington Warns Syrian Regime against Attacking the Kurds (Asharq Al-Awsat). The Syrian government will go along with this arrangement because they have no choice .... they need Russian support. The problem will be Turkey .... I am sure that they are not happy with this arrangement. Iran is also a potential problem, but the growing unrest in that country has shaken the government in Iran, and the Syrian Kurds are probably the least of their worries.