In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Gen. Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spoke about the ongoing attacks by the Turkish military and its allied forces on his Kurdish forces. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire deal on Wednesday, General Abdi stated that his forces are still facing constant attacks, with 80 drone attacks daily and intensive artillery shells, which has paralyzed their counterterror operations.
The SDF is responsible for guarding 45,000 ISIS militants and their families in camps and prisons in Eastern Syria, and General Abdi warned that if his forces have to flee, ISIS would return. He also mentioned that half of his fighters guarding the ISIS camps have already withdrawn in recent days, putting the prisons and camps in a critical situation.
General Abdi fears that if the US pulls its forces out of Syria, it could create a vacuum that would allow extremist groups to unite and bring back a “tougher and more extremist” version of ISIS. He also warned that another bloody civil war could break out in Syria if the new government in Damascus does not include minority groups, such as the Syrian Kurds.
The US has about 900 troops in Eastern Syria, and if the SDF retreats under attack, the US would likely have to withdraw its forces. The US is working to maintain the focus on counter-ISIS missions and is in close contact with its Turkish counterparts to address the situation.
Meanwhile, a US-British-Arab coalition carried out airstrikes against dozens of ISIS positions in Eastern Syria, striking over 75 targets using B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s. The CENTCOM Commander General Erik Kurilla stated that the US will hold ISIS accountable and will not allow the group to reconstitute or take advantage of the current situation in Syria.