Special Forces in Rojava - TTG

For two years the strategic town of Shaddadi, in northeastern Syria, was a stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. In February, 5,000 fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab militias, encircled the city and battled the terrorists for 10 days. It took fierce fighting, supported by air strikes from the US-led coalition, and was slow progress until finally the SDF retook Shaddadi on February 19, liberating its residents from the yoke of the jihadists.

Village by village, the SDF Coalition made up of Kurdish, Arab, Armenian, Assyrian, Chechen, Turkmen and Circassian fighters is determined to expand the territories it controls. A key ally of the West, its aim now is to influence Syria’s destiny.

FRANCE 24 reporters Romeo Langlois, Mayssa Awad and Mohammed Hassan were able to gain exclusive access to the fighters of this interethnic coalition that is taking on the IS group "caliphate". They witnessed firsthand the battle to take back the town of Shaddadi. This is their extraordinary 35-minute documentary. (France24)

———————————

This is the lead-in to a terrific documentary. It paints an informative view of current events in Rojava. I found the following points most interesting. 

- The narrator describes the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK. Although that coincides with Erdogan’s position, I don’t buy it. Nor is that the position of the USG, much to the chagrin of Erdogan. 

- There is an interview with Sheikh Hamidi, leader of the Shammar tribe in Syria. His tribal militia is part of the SDF. He says he sides with the Kurds as long as they don’t put the integrity of Syria at risk. Neither Hamidi or the Kurds have declared war on the Syrian government. He sees the IS as just the latest version of Wahabbism championed by the house of Saud which his tribe has fought since the 19th century. I find this a wonderful example of the continuity of culture and history.

- The most interesting part of this documentary is the filming of a group of Special Forces soldiers on the front lines during the assault on Shaddadi. The narrator mentions the presence of French, American and British advisors with the SDF forces. The soldiers in question definitely have the appearance of American Green Berets. As I suspected, they are not confined to coordination rooms behind the front. They are very much in the thick of it. Ah, to be young again.

———————————

Hanover (Germany) (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will on Monday announce plans to send up to 250 more military personnel to Syria, according to a senior administration official, intensifying US assistance to rebels as a ceasefire falters.

Obama "tomorrow will announce that he has authorized up to 250 additional forces deploying to Syria," the source said, adding that the president would confirm the deployment in a speech in the northern city of Hanover. US troops in Syria are mandated to advise and assist Syrian rebel and anti-Islamic State forces. (Yahoo)

———————————

The France24 documentary only shows ten or so Green Berets. And this small group of advisors led to a breathtakingly successful double envelopment battle. An additional 250 advisors will be a major investment in this front. I think this means there will soon be a serious SDF/YPG offensive towards Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. This may be one of the reasons for the SAA offensive to relieve their defenders at Deir ez-Zor. Perhaps there will be a reenactment of the meeting on the Elbe between Russian and American troops, this time on the Euphrates between the SAA and the SDF/YPG. With that many advisors available, I hope there will also be a push towards Manbij and beyond from the Tishrin bridgehead.  That damned border needs to be closed one way or another. And Erdogan can pound sand up his fourth point of contact.

TTG

Comments

[Babak Makkinejad]

"Caferi" means heretic.

[Babak Makkinejad]

There is a reason that the usage of "Caferi" - Heretic - has not been expunged from Turkish Lexicon to designate the Shia - about 3 million souls largely in Eastern Anatolia.

Because that is what the majority of Turkish speakers of Sunni persuasion believe the Shia to be; heretics.

No equivalent expression exists in Persian or Azeri Turkish - to my knowledge.

The point I was hoping to make was the existence of all these mutual antipathies and suggest the way forward is some sort of diplomatic accommodation.

I am sure that you are not harboring prejudice against other people or religions but I also do not believe that you are a typical Turk.

[Ishmael Zechariah]

BM,
Caferi comes from the first name of Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq (جعفر بن محمد الصادق) which is read as "Cafer" in Turkish. The suffix "i" indicates "belonging" to the stem word. Thus "Caferi" means those who identify with, belonging to, or following Cafer. These folks call themselves "Caferi". Please look at the link I sent before. Why would they call themselves "heretics"? Mind you, if Islam is what you and/or tayyip defines as such, I am happy to be a heretic. A bit of reflection on your part before making all these statements would be wise.

Ishmael Zechariah

[turcopolier]

IZ et al

"Kaafer" is an Arabic word that means unbeliever. (plural "Kufaar"). The word exists in other languages as a loan word from Arabic, "the tongue of the angels." "liisan al-mala'ika" "Takfiri" which is what jihadis call Muslims who do not agree with them is from the same root. (masdar) pls

[Ishmael Zechariah]

Different Clue,
Probably the same percentage who remained loyal to their ideals during the Great Wars in your country, or maybe slightly better. We are a stubborn bunch.
Ishmael Zechariah

[Ishmael Zechariah]

Col. Lang,
Kaafer is "Kafir" in Turkish, the plural is "kuffar" (written with an umlaut on u). "Cafer" has a different root. It originally meant "water fount" in Arabic, but very few Turks, secular or otherwise, would know this. Perhaps the Caferis know.
Ishmael Zechariah

[turcopolier]

IZ

So why the discussion here about "caferi" having to do with Shia? pl

[Ishmael Zechariah]

Colonel Lang,
Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq is the sixth imam of the Twelver Shia. His followers, calling themselves "Caferi" in Turkish are Twelvers. Babak, for whatever reason, thought it meant "heretic". I normally let these things pass, but figured some direct fire would cause him to take cover and think. Mistake on my part. Sorry.
Ishmael Zechariah

[Babak Makkinejad]

From Arabic:

کفر

کافر

[Babak Makkinejad]

Ah, t'is never too late to be corrected.

The "C" is not pronounced as "K" - such "Cry" but as in "J" - after Ja'afar -

I apologize for my misunderstanding - some of my opinions were evidently based on faulty knowledge of how to pronounce Turkish sound of the Turkish alphabet.

[turcopolier]

babak

"kafara" would be the verb. I have no idea what other "measures" of the root (masdar) there are. pl

[Henshaw]

Couldn't speak for the Iraqi Kurds, but I guess they'll do pretty much what Mr Barzani tells them to.

Happy to be corrected, but as I recall, Raqqa is well south of Kurdish majority areas in Nth Syria. US support and cover is no doubt welcome for as long as it lasts, as long as it doesn't conflict with Kurdish core objectives. Turkey would probably be somewhat less accommodating towards the Syrian Kurds if the USA wasn't present.