Ankara: After the coup in Syria, pro-Turkish rebels have taken control. This is being seen as a big blow for America. The US has supported another rebel group in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Now rebels supported by Türkiye are attacking SDF fighters. SDF has suffered heavy losses in these attacks. The SDF is a key ally in the US coalition against Islamic State militants. It is led by the YPG militia. The YPG is a group that Türkiye considers a terrorist wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkey has outlawed the YPG and the PKK, which have fought Turkey for 40 years. Blinken meets Turkish Foreign Minister Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reached Turkey and spoke to his counterpart Hakan Fidan. At the same time, General Michael Kurilla of the American Central Command has reached Israel. He met Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. Blinken and Biden on Friday agreed on the need for continued efforts to counter the resurgence of Islamic State in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Washington’s top diplomat Blinken sought cooperation from Turkey on the Syria issue. Also said he discussed the imperative for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas to say “yes” to the Gaza ceasefire agreement in his talks with the Turkish President and Foreign Minister. A US official said Hamas has softened its position in ceasefire talks. Blinken is visiting the Middle East to establish a united front with allies such as the Arab world and Turkey on principles that Washington hopes will guide Syria’s political transition, such as inclusivity and respect for minorities.Islamic Pledged to take action against the State He said on Monday that the Islamic State will try to use this period to re-establish capabilities in Syria, but the US is determined to prevent that from happening. “Our countries have worked hard and given so much for years to destroy ISIS’s territorial caliphate and to ensure that this threat never rears its head again,” Blinken said after meeting in Ankara with Biden. And it is essential that we continue those efforts.” Top US general CENTCOM arrives in Israel Army General Michael Kurilla, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi and Israeli Defense Minister Meet Israel Katz. The US has urged Israel to consult closely with the US on developments in Syria following the overthrow of Assad. “The leaders discussed a range of regional security issues, including the ongoing situation in Syria and preparedness against other strategic and regional threats,” the CENTCOM statement said. CENTCOM said the guerrillas also visited Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon in recent days. US in contact with Syrian rebels Antony Blinken said US officials are in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group. Recently in Syria, rebel groups ousted the government of President Bashar al-Assad. However, the US and other countries have declared the rebel group a terrorist organization. Blinken is the first US leader to publicly confirm contacts between the Joe Biden administration and the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS led the coalition of opposition groups that ousted Assad from power last Sunday.
