Clarifications from Keno Gabriel on preparations for campaign to defeat terrorism

DELSOZ DELDAR-DIYAR AHEMO / AL-HASAKAH

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held a press conference on Tuesday at its headquarters in al-Shadadi district of al-Hasakah canton in al-Jazeera region and announced the battle to defeat terrorism which is the final stage of al-Jazeera Tempest campaign.

After the statement, the Spokesman for SDF Keno Gabriel answered the questions of the journalists. And his most prominent responses are below,

What is your program to liberate the last strongholds of IS?

There is no specific deadline and program for the campaign, but an accurate plan has been put in the last period and the fighters have been trained and armed in coordination with the International Coalition.

Today is the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, is this a coincidence or what?

I think it is a coincidence, but it is good to be the battle against terrorism on September 11, and today, we can say that it is the first step to end the battle against terrorism in the battle of defeating terrorism that would be launched by SDF to defeat IS terrorist organization in Syria.

If Hajin town is liberated, you will be on the contact line with the regime forces, what is your position in case an attack is launched on your positions?

Hajin area will not be the first point where we are existed on the line of contact with the regime forces, and there are no problems between us. There were previous obstacles by the forces of the regime to delay our campaigns and they were dealt with on the principle of self-defense. This will continue during this stage.

What is the fate of your relationship with the Iraqi forces after the completion of controlling the Syrian-Iraqi border?

Coordination with the Iraqi forces is continuing, especially with regard to the artillery strikes to continue the advances of our forces on the ground in addition to the air strikes. This is linked to the coordinate and information provided by SDF and the intelligence groups stationed around the headquarters of IS mercenaries.

We will continue coordinating with the Iraqi forces to secure the border area completely to guarantee that there would not be any movement of the terrorist elements between Iraq and Syria.

You are talking about the final stage of the battle against IS, what is the future of your relations with the United States and the International Coalition after defeating IS?

Coordination with the International Coalition forces is not linked to the military operations to defeat IS. The next program that we will continue to work together is combating terrorism and preventing the emergence of IS in the liberated area. On this basis, supporting SDF and training the forces and other various programs we made together would be ongoing.

The programs of the International Coalition will also continue with the local councils formed in the liberated areas to work on the reconstruction and the restoration of the normal life for civilians in the liberated areas.

An imminent battle in Idlib, what is the position of SDF from the forthcoming battle of Idlib?

There is no official participation of SDF in Idlib, and there is no contact with the other forces on this subject, but in any case, we are ready, according our objectives, to confront terrorism in all the Syrian areas.

A.H

ANHA