US speeds up military aid to PKK/PYD

A total of 195 trucks allegedly carrying military equipment for the PKK/PYD terror group were seen passing through the Iraqi border with Syria; it later arrived in the north-eastern Syrian province of Al-Hasakah, sources in the region said.

The delivery was performed in two separate shipments; 95 trucks arrived in the city on 13 July while 100 trucks arrived on Tuesday, the sources, who asked not to be named due to security fears, told Anadolu Agency.

“Stryker” armoured vehicles along with tanker trucks caught the attention during shipment.

Before the latest delivery, a total of 434 trucks had already been sent to PKK/PYD-held region; 60 trucks on 5 June, 20 trucks on 12 June, 50 trucks on 16 June, 120 trucks between 21 and 26 June, 82 trucks on 5 July and 102 trucks on 9 July.

According to the Pentagon, the US military aid to several armed groups in Syria, including the PKK/PYD, comprises of 12,000 Kalashnikovs, 6,000 machine guns, 3,500 heavy machine guns, 3,000 RPG-7s, 1,000 American AT-4 or Russian SPG-9 anti-tanks, 235 mortar guns of different calibers, 100 sniper rifles, 450 PV-7 night vision binoculars and 150 binoculars with infrared laser illuminator.

The Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF – OIR) led by the United States — announced on 6 June that the Raqqah Operation was launched with the aim of clearing Daesh from the city center.

However, sources in the region say such military aid by the US has allegedly taken place since 2016.

PKK/PYD, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, is in control of Al-Hasakah in the east, northern Raqqah, Manbij, to the east of Aleppo, Afrin and Tal Rifaat districts.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, during which more than 40,000 people have been killed.  Turkey says it is also involved in illicit drug production, manufacture, and trafficking.

However, the US sees the PKK/PYD, which is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as an ally in the fight against Daesh.

Turkey’s National Security Council stated on Monday that some of the weapons sent to the PKK/PYD within the scope of fight against Daesh had been captured during the raids executed by Turkish Armed Forces against the terrorist group PKK recently, proving that the PKK/PYD was a terrorist organization operating together.