YPG reportedly preparing for Jarabulus offensive with Russian help

PKK-affiliated Syria-based Democratic Union Party's (PYD) armed-wing People's Protection Units (YPG) is allegedly getting ready for the start of an offensive into DAESH-held Jarabulus in northern Syria with Russia's support, according to local sources.

Jarabulus is located between the PYD's two cantons, Rojava in northern Syria and Afrin, in the northwest. Turkey has repeatedly warned the YPG to not attempt to cross the west of the Euphrates, where Jarabulus is located. Ankara also repeatedly said it has plans to create a safe zone in that region with its allies.

For 20 days Russia has been delivering arms to YPG positions around Jarabulus, including camps located in Afrin and it is reported that the country will be also bolstered with an air shield.

News sources have reported previously that Russian helicopters delivered heavy armor to a YPG camp located 7 kilometers away from Afrin. The Russian armor delivery went to a YPG camp where fighters are trained and then brought to battlefields in Aleppo, Kobani and Qamishlo. Veteran soldiers from the PKK's Qandil headquarters also help run the training programs

The YPG has made reinforcements in Kobani and Tal Abyad in the last three days and PYD officials are in constant contact with Moscow. The planned offensive is interpreted as the most serious operation that threatens Turkey after attacks on the Bayırbucak Turkmen region in the last few weeks.Sherwan Darvish, one of the commanders in the YPG, confirmed the offensive preparations and indicated that they will soon attack Jarabulus.

Meanwhile the YPG has intensified attacks on opposition forces in the Sheikh Maqsoud district of Aleppo.

The YPG expanded its territories westward after taking control of Tal Abyad from DAESH in June, a region mainly inhabited by Arabs and Turkmen. However, in order to connect Kobani with the Afrin region, the YPG must first take control of Jarabulus and the Azaz region controlled by opposition groups. In order to achieve that goal, the PYD sought a rapprochement with Russia.

Two days before Russia began its air operations in Syria on Sept. 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin said only the regime of Assad and the YPG were truly fighting DAESH. Only 11 days after Russia began its air campaign in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with PYD Co-Chair Salih Muslim in Paris. On Oct. 21, Bogdanov also met Asya Abdullah, the other PYD Co-Chair, in Moscow. The meetings were followed by the opening of a PYD office in Moscow. On Oct. 23, Putin said the Assad regime and the PYD need to unite forces, and called on the organization to come over to the regime side in the Syria conflict.