US-led coalition and Syria militia building 30,000-strong force

The US-led anti-ISIL coalition is working with its Syrian militia allies to set up a new border force of 30,000 personnel, the coalition said yesterday.

The move has added to Turkish anger over Washington’s support for Kurdish-dominated forces in Syria.

A senior Turkish official said the US plan to train the border security force was the reason for Ankara summoning Washington’s charge d’affaires on Wednesday last week.

Meanwhile, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to attack the Kurdish militia-held town of Afrin in northern Syria “in the days ahead” to clear it of “terrorists”.

“The slightest disturbance on the border would be the signal for us to take a step,” Mr Erdogan said in a speech.

Afrin is controlled by the YPG, a militia considered by Ankara to be a terrorist group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party waging an insurgency inside Turkey.

The issue is among many causing tense relations between Ankara and Washington, although Turkish officials said in November last year that president Donald Trump had told them the US would no longer supply weapons to the YPG.

“I hope that during an Afrin operation, these powers will not make the mistake of appearing to be on the same side as a terror organisation,” Mr Erdogan said.

He said he hoped Turkey “would take action together” with its allies.

The border security force will be posted at the borders of the area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – an alliance of militias in northern and eastern Syria dominated by the YPG.

About half of the force will be SDF veterans and recruiting for the other half is under way, the coalition’s public affairs office said.

The force will be along the border with Turkey to the north, the Iraqi border to the south-east, and along the Euphrates River valley, which broadly acts as the dividing line separating the US-backed SDF and Syrian government forces backed by Iran and Russia.

Syria’s main Kurdish groups have emerged as some of the few winners of the Syrian war, and are seeking to entrench their autonomy over areas of northern Syria.

Washington opposes those autonomy plans, even as it has backed the SDF, the anti-ISIL coalition’s main partner in Syria.

The coalition said the border security force would operate under SDF command and that about 230 people were now being trained.

“Efforts are taken to ensure individuals serve in areas close to their homes. Therefore, the ethnic composition of the force will be relative to the areas in which they serve,” it said. “More Kurds will serve in the areas in northern Syria. More Arabs will serve in areas along the Euphrates River valley and along the border with Iraq to the south.

“The base of the new force is essentially a realignment of approximately 15,000 members of the SDF to a new mission in the Border Security Force as their actions against ISIS draw to a close.

“They will be providing border security through professionally securing checkpoints and conducting counter-improvised explosive device operations,” the office said, adding that coalition and SDF forces were still engaging remaining ISIL pockets in Deir Ezzor province.

The US has about 2,000 troops in Syria fighting ISIL, and has said it is prepared to stay in the country until the militants have been defeated and stabilisation can be sustained.

The Syrian government in Damascus has declared the US an illegal occupation force, and its SDF allies as “traitors”.