The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a press statement denying media reports on what happened in the area of Sahila on Wednesday 16th.

The statement by SDF Media Center includes the following:

“During the years that followed the start of anti-ISIS terrorism operations, there was always a mechanism for joint coordination on both sides of the borders between the SDF and the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and this coordination contributed to overcoming many of the obstacles and that usually occur in the border areas.

What happened on the night of Wednesday, 16th December, near Sahila bordering area between the Kurdistan region and Rojava, was not an attack on any stationing points of Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the media statements raised were a great exaggeration that gave the event more than it is in reality. What happened was nothing more than a matter of poor coordination between the security services on both sides of the border, in contrast to what was promoted as an assault or attack on the Peshmerga forces and their positions.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have always respected the sovereignty of the region and its military forces on its territory, after coordinating a ceasefire between one of the guerrilla groups that ended their tasks in support of anti-ISIS operations alongside our forces and the Peshmerga. The group was on their way to return to their headquarters where they were besieged by the Peshmerga forces which led to short clashes between the two parties, then our channels of communication interfered to stop these clashes and coordinate to bring them back safely through joint efforts between the two coordination teams.

We in the Syrian Democratic Forces are all confident that intensifying coordination between both sides of the borders is the only and necessary guarantee to avoid any future misunderstanding and it serves the common interest and the process of stability and security on the borders.”