Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held its annual meeting with all constituents in Northern and Eastern Syria yesterday. SDF General Council was restructured in the meeting.

SDF Spokesperson Kino Gabriel spoke to ANHA about the General Council and the SDF’s goals and said: “The first annual meeting of the SDF Military Council we held aims to continue the restructuring of the SDF as an official and active force.”

Gabriel said they have been working on the restructuring for several months and that the efforts will take some years still, as the establishment of military councils in Northern and Eastern Syria after areas newly liberated from ISIS gangs is part of the work.

Gabriel continued: “This meeting aimed to clarify efforts by all military councils, support the assemblies and thus garner more support for the SDF to be prepared against threats and attacks against the region.”

MAIN TOPIC IS CURRENT THREATS

The SDF Spokesperson continued: “In this framework, there are issues like the safe zone and the mechanism to realize it, ISIS and operations against sleeper cells by international and regional forces, among others. Looking at the issue in general, the main issue in this process is threats against the region and the need for efforts against them.”

“GENERAL COUNCIL IS PART OF THE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE”

Kino Gabriel said, “The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Council is not a separate structure. This council is part of the SDF’s institutional structure that includes all military councils established in various regions recently as well as many councils and organizations.”

“THE COUNCIL WILL DETERMINE GENERAL STRATEGY”

Gabriel said the following on the duties of the SDF General Council:

“The main duty of the council is to determine strategies for the SDF and establish an annual program. SDF will follow the plan set out for it.”

Kino Gabriel spoke about the fight against ISIS gangs and said: “SDF and Domestic Security Forces carry out operations with support from the International Coalition to capture dozens of sleeper cell members and preventing terrorist attacks.”

“OuUR FORCES STATIONED IN VARIOUS FRONTS AFFECT OUR ACTIONS AGAINST GANGS”

SDF Spokesperson Kino Gabriel said the Turkish state’s threats against Northern and Eastern Syria have affected the fight against ISIS: “Regional forces threaten our territory. This affects our operations against ISIS gangs and allows the cells to operate with ease. Because, due to the threats, our forces have scattered among several fronts. This of course affects the fight against ISIS negatively.”