Syrian Kurdish leader signals possible joint action with Iraq

Aldar Xelil warned of a jihadist revival in eastern Syria, where operations by the U.S.-backed SDF have tapered off since they diverted fighters to the northwest to fight a Turkish offensive.

“Iraq is a neighboring state and is also suffering from Daesh terrorism,” he said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

“Daesh is present in the shared area between us, and this points to the possibility of conditions arising that would pave the way for joint actions against Daesh,” he said.

Xelil is co-chair of the Movement for a Democratic Society, a coalition of mainly Syrian Kurdish parties, and an architect of plans for autonomy in northern Syria.

Xelil said the shift in tactics away from direct confrontation meant fewer fighters were needed in the northwest.

“The number has reduced a lot,” he said. “The surplus number will head to the other areas to strengthen the defence of these areas,” against Islamic State and “any other threat”.

“After Afrin, Daesh has revived and has started to expand in the region, and has benefited a lot from the vacuum,” Xelil said. “This is a danger we are thinking about, and we are tying to fine the appropriate means to take measures against the expansion of Daesh,” he said.

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