MESOP : “TAKING RAQQA” BY KURDISH SDF FORCES ! – US GENERAL VOTEL’S PRICE FOR THE INVITATION OF PYD (PKK) TO THE GENEVA CONFERENCE TABLE / BUT CLEAR “NO” BY PUTIN & OBAMA CONCERNING KURDISH AUTONOMY etc.

Kurdish-Led Force Advances on Islamic State’s Raqqa

25 May 2016 – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have launched an offensive to take territory north of the Islamic State’s center of Raqqa in northern Syria. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, Talal Silo, said the offensive began on Wednesday morning. He emphasized that the operations are focused on captured on capturing areas outside Raqqa, rather than the city, which was taken over by ISIS in autumn 2013.

SDF fighters were reportedly moving from Tel Abyad near the Turkish border toward Ain Issa, about 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Raqqa. A US-led coalition supported the advance with airstrikes.The SDF, since October 2015, is led by the Kurdish militia YPG but has some Arab and Assyrian units. From its inception, it has been supported by the US, which has provided special forces, weapons, and ammunition. The Forces have taken territory across northeast Syria from the Islamic State, crossing the Euphrates River in December. However, further offensives have been limited by political considerations, including Turkish objections.

Ankara believes the YPG and its political umbrella, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), are directed by the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK. The YPG has also been battling Syrian rebels in the northwest of the country. In recent weeks, Turkey and US have been in talks over the political and military situation west of the Euphrates, with reports of an emerging agreement over the campaign against ISIS. Last week, the head of US Central Command, General Joseph Votel, visited SDF positions. www.mesop.de