Aug 4, 2013

The efforts of the Syrian National Council, led by Kurdish-origin Abdel Basset Sieda, to mediate between the PYD and Jabhat al-Nusra to end their clashes have failed. Following the assassination of PYD founder and Kurdish Supreme Council member Isa Huso, Jabhat al-Nusra launched heavy attacks against Kurdish targets. The PYD’s military wing, the YPG, responded by declaring mobilization and calling on all young people and anyone who can hold a gun to take their places in the YPG ranks. Kurdish organizations Kongra-Gel and KCK announced their support for the YPG’s mobilization call.

"Kurdish-Arab clashes"

The general command of the Rojava Popular Defense Units [YPG] said many Free Syrian Army units have joined the Jabhat al-Nusra attacks and this has added new dimensions to the clashes. The YPG command said, "Many of the FSA battalions are supporting Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and are participating in attacks from Derik to Aleppo and Afrin. FSA battalion commanders have ordered their elements to come to West Kurdistan to fight the Kurds. They want to provoke clashes between Arabs and Kurds and to depict them as a war between two peoples. We will foil these plans.”

Focusing on the border crossing

The customs crossing between Turkey and Syria at Ras al-Ain [Serekaniye] that has been calm for a few days is now the scene of battles. Attacks by Jabhat al-Nusra to capture the customs crossing have failed. Jabhat al-Nusra has been firing with artillery and tanks from Tel Halef, which is 3 km from Serekaniye. They are also using snipers deployed at elevated locations. Many people have been wounded at al-Hasakah and Girge Lege by shelling.