MESOP TODAYS OPINION : JOSHUA LANDIS – US COLLABORATION WITH PYD/PKK IS LIMITED

US, Syrian Kurds enjoy close ties: university professor

21 June 2015 – The president of Middle East studies in Oklahoma University believes Kurds are the only trustworthy U.S. partner in Syria and the two sides are enjoying close ties. Kurds in northern Syria liberated the bordering city of Gari Spi after a week-long clash with the militants of the Islamic State and linked the two Kurdish cantons of Jazria and Kobani. Jashwa Landis told NPR that the U.S.- Syria Kurds’ friendship was formed after the IS siege on Kobani where the U.S. found out that Kurds are the only real partner in fight against the IS so as that the U.S. jets bomb the IS positions as Kurds demand and the cooperation has closed the two sides together.The university professor added that the reason behind the close relation in that Washington has not partner in Syria but Kurds.

He went on to say that Turkey and Arabic states in the region are worried that Kurds would establish an independent state in northern Syria and Turkey Kurds would be encouraged to seek for an independent state, adding that Ankara is worried about unity between Syrian and Turkey Kurds. He went on to say that Arabs in the region and Turkey are accusing the U.S. of helping Syrian Kurds in cleansing Arabs and Turkmens in northern Syria and the protests make Washington to decrease its supports to Kurds. Landis added that the U.S. should care that its support to Syrian Kurds should be limited “and I believe Gari Spi or Tel Abyad was the last place that the U.S. used Kurds against the IS.”