YPG/PYD identifies its main enemy: “We would fight against Israel”
The YPG/PYD’s Ayn al-Arab official Mahmut Berhudan says Israel’s advance in Syria is unacceptable
Mahmut Berhudan, the Ayn al-Arab official of the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the YPG/PYD, said Israel’s advance in Syria cannot be accepted. “The Israeli occupation and threat continue along the Golan–Quneitra–Daraa line,” Berhudan said, adding that they would be ready to fight Israel if the Damascus government assigned them a mission in the area.
We published the first part of our interview yesterday with Mahmut Berhudan, the local official of the YPG/PYD in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), a district of Aleppo that has been under the group’s control since 2012. In the second part, we discuss the organization’s future, weapons supplied by the United States, Israel’s objectives in the region, and the group’s views on the Islamic State’s entry into Syria.
Mahmut Berhudan spoke to our colleague Yılmaz Bilgen about how the PYD-YPG will be integrated into Syria and what course they intend to follow in the period ahead.
Here are Berhudan’s remarks:
Israel’s Abraham Accords, the so-called David Corridor, and its operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran are sending us very important messages. Israel, which has declared the area between the Euphrates and the Nile to be the “Promised Land,” has expanded this boundary from the Nile all the way to Isfahan in Iran. This means they will not stop. Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds all live in the regions in question. We are witnessing what is happening in Palestine, Gaza and Lebanon with our own eyes. Israel’s religious, political and military objectives also pose a major threat to the Kurds.
This is why we consider the “Terror-Free Region” process initiated by President Erdoğan and MHP leader Bahçeli to be meaningful. Within the next few days, we will become soldiers of the Syrian army. Israeli occupation and threats continue along the Golan–Quneitra–Daraa line. If Damascus assigns us a mission there, we would gladly go and deploy there. If there is a war, we would not hesitate to fight for our homeland. Let me say this with complete sincerity: rather than sitting at home right now, I would prefer to be there in that region.
Mahmut Berhudan spoke to our colleague Yılmaz Bilgen about how the PYD-YPG will be integrated into Syria and what course they intend to follow in the period ahead.
“THE WEAPONS THE US GAVE US HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED”
We reminded Mahmut Berhudan that
the amount of weapons supplied by the United States and what happened to those weapons is one of the most widely discussed issues in the Turkish public debate.
He responded as follows:
Our direct military contact with the United States began with the Islamic State’s attack on Ayn al-Arab. At that time, we were in a position where we would accept help from anyone, in any form. After that, we had an intense relationship for 10 years.
I have to say that there has been some exaggeration regarding the weapons supplied to us. In terms of military vehicles, equipment and ammunition, yes, we received substantial support. But when it comes to weapons, believe me, sometimes they sent us rusty swords that could not even cut.
As for the weapons that remain in our possession, a delegation from Damascus came and inspected and recorded all of them. The army has full authority to decide how these weapons will be used. We are being integrated into the new army as four regiments. They can determine the needs of the military garrisons and security forces here and transfer any surplus weapons and ammunition to another area. There is no obstacle or hesitation on this issue.
I hope what we have said is sufficient for the Turkish public as well. A significant portion of the armored vehicles and ammunition supplied by the United States was destroyed on the front lines, beginning with the fighting in Tal Rifaat and Manbij.
“‘ISIS NEVER CARRIED OUT AN ATTACK IN ISRAEL OR IRAN!’”
Arguing that the most important turning point in Syria came with the Islamic State, Mahmut Berhudan said the organization was part of a multinational operation. One of the most striking statements he made in the interview was:
“Some circles blamed Erdoğan at the time for ISIS’s existence and activities. Yet ISIS caused enormous damage not only to Syria and the Kurds, but also to Turkey.”
Berhudan said:
“Following President Erdoğan’s instructions, the Turkish military fought ISIS intensively. I would particularly like to draw attention to this: although this organization carried out bombings even in Europe, it never carried out an attack in Iran or Israel. This is a very interesting point.
“In addition, Europe was ISIS’s largest source of militants. We can also include Russia and the Caucasus, the Gulf countries, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. It would be a great injustice to portray Turkey and President Erdoğan as part of this multinational operation.”
Terör örgütü PYD- YPG’nin Ayn el-Arab sorumlusu Mahmut Berhudan, İsrail’in Suriye’deki ilerlemesinin kabul edilemeyeceğini söyledi. “Golan-Kuneytra-Dera hattında da İsrail işgali ve tehdidi sürüyor” diyen Berhudan, Şam yönetiminin sıcak bölgede kendilerine görev vermesi hâlinde İsrail’e karşı...
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