Turkish-funded jihadists take aim at US-backed Democratic Syrian Forces

 

Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam militant groups, active in Syria, are supported by Turkey and fighting against the Democratic Syrian Forces that are countering Daesh terrorist group, Salih Muslim, co-chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Sputnik on Monday.

 

Ahrar al-Sham

“Mentioned groups [Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam] are supported by Turkey and are fighting against the Democratic Syrian Forces (DSF). They are jihadist, but presented like Free Syrian Army,” Salih Muslim, co-chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), said.

 

The DSF are the Syrian ground troops, consisting of Kurdish, Arabic and Turkmen forces and fighting jointly against the IS in Syria.

 

On May 12, the UN Security Council rejected the proposal of Russia to include Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam in the UN list of terrorist organizations. Sanctioning the two groups would allow airstrikes against them, as terrorist organizations are not included in the ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and the United States in late February.