Introduction to YPG
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| Kurdish YPG forces |
YPG, the abbreviation of “Yekîneyên Parastina Gel” can be translated into English as the “the People’s protection unit”. The YPG is a part of the larger Syrian democratic forces’ umbrella which also includes Arabs, Turkmen, Armenians, Assyrians, and Chechens of different religions.
It was formed as the armed wing of the Democratic Union party in 2004 as a result of Qamishli uprising but remained silent due to brutal oppression from the Syrian regime.
The militia came to the forefront as a formidable force on the ground after the Syrian civil war started in 2011. The YPG soon overshadowed other Kurdish militias, and its image was further boosted after it took over Kobane from ISIS. Currently, the force is involved in a massive US-backed military operation to flush out Islamists from their de-facto capital city, Raqqa.
Why is America supporting the YPG?
America started supporting rebels with medical supplies and financial aid soon after the break-out of the Syrian Civil War but this support turned into military training, weapons supply and intelligence coordination after some time. However, the American aid began to decrease due to internal fighting among different rebel groups, defections of members to the Islamist groups and the increasing influence of the Islamist militias in the rebel strongholds.
The rise of ISIS, its spreading tentacles and the lack of response from the Free Syrian Army rebels prompted the United States of America to look for other allies on the ground. The only option to roll back the winning run of the ISIS was to provide arms and ammunitions to the battle-hardened Kurdish forces. The Kurdish forces under the American and Russian airpower proved their mettle by uprooting Islamic State from the border town of Kobane.
Due to their battlefield experience, discipline and past successes, the American special forces and trainers are currently supporting them in their quest to take the last bastion of the ISIS in Syria.
Why Turkey considers YPG a rival?
Turkish Government is fighting a bloody insurgency in its country waged by the Kurdish separatists since 1980s. Turkey considers PKK as an extension of the PYD (mother organisation of YPG) and a terrorist group. Rajab Tayyip Erdogan thinks that the autonomous government of YPG around the borders of Turkey can further ignite the Kurdish statements for an independent state within Turkey.
Why America and Turkey not on the same page?
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| Turkish Flag on the right and American Flag on the left |
As stated above the American establishment considers YPG as the only force that can defeat ISIL in Syria and hence has supplied them with weapons for Raqqa operation. On the other hand, Turkish leaders are of the view that Free Syrian Army rebels and Turkish forces along with Coalition airpower can replace the role of YPG in eliminating the ISIL from Raqqa. Negotiations in this regard between two sides have fallen flat on face.
Turkish reaction so far
Turkey is severely against the US-Kurdish relations and has repeatedly tried to convince the Obama and now the Trump administration to withdraw their support from the YPG but in vain. The continued US support for YPG against ISIL compelled Turkey to launch a military operation of its own inside the Syrian territory with the codename of “Euphrates Shield”. During the press, the Turkish forces took control the border town of Jarablus and then moved southwards to clear off ISIS militants from the strategically and historically important city of AL-Bab.
The two main aims of the operation were to make the Turkish border areas safe from ISIS shelling and to prevent the Kurdish YPG from crossing the Euphrates and linking three regions that it controls in Syria. Despite repeated objections from the Turkish leaders, the American military establishment has vigorously put its weight behind the Syrian democratic forces in their fight against the Islamic State. This approach has somewhat alienated the Turkish President who as a reaction has been getting much friendlier to the Russian president these days. The Turkish Airforce even attacked the YPG forces in Syria and had reiterated to do so in the future as well.
What is the solution?
Two major force contributors to the NATO, America and Turkey, must set aside their differences and focus on fighting the militants if they want to be successful in changing the landscape of the Syrian Civil war for the so-called moderate elements. Turkey must keep in mind that only Syrian democratic forces have the will and strength on the ground to defeat ISIS in Syria.
The President of United States should assure Tayyeb Erdogan that the military aid to the YPG will not fall into the hands of Kurdish separatists active in Turkey. The links to YPG and PKK are well-established, and it’s hard to predict whether Americans will be able to cut both organisations from each other or not. Only time will tell!
About Muhammad Asim
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