"Kuvvet-i Suvvar," a new faction formed under the U.S.-backed umbrella group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the PKK's Syria offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed group People's Protection Unit (YPG) has emerged in northern Syria to fight the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), Turkish language daily Yeni Şafak reported.
The group recently published a video announcing its foundation where it was also made clear that the group's primary goal will be to battle the FSA and annex its territories in northern Syria. The video clearly showed the group in possession of weapons sent by the U.S. to the PYD for the purpose of "fighting against Daesh."
The U.S. has supported the PYD and the YPG militia along with several other Arab militia groups under the umbrella of the SDF. Washington continues to provide these groups with arms and equipment despite strong objections from Ankara, which views the PYD and YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group, which has waged a deadly, 30-year campaign against the Turkish state. The PKK is designated a terror group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.
Meanwhile, a Kuvvet-i Suvvar spokesperson has said that it will launch a new wave of attacks against Turkey and the FSA on all fronts and "tens of thousands" of new fighters will come and join them.
Earlier on Aug. 24, 2016, Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield to clear its border of Daesh and the PKK-linked groups' presence. Ankara concluded the operation on March 29 after liberating more than a 2,000-square-kilometer area from Daesh in northern Syria.
Civilian killed in PYD mortar attack in AleppoAt least one civilian was killed and five others injured in a mortar attack carried out by the PKK/PYD in Syria's Aleppo, a local medical source has said.
The attack targeted opposition-held positions on the outskirts of the town of Marea, Abdurrahman Hafiz, a doctor at Marea's main hospital, told Anadolu Agency (AA). He said that one civilian was killed in the attack and five others injured.