Ahram Gate – 08/10/2019
The President of the Astana Platform, Randa Kassis, expresses deep regret over the apparent decision of the United States authorities to withdraw their troops from Syria, particularly from areas along the Turkish border.
While uncertainty may remain regarding the timeline of this withdrawal, such a move would nonetheless jeopardise the security and stability of northern Syria. The victory against the so-called Islamic State — which continues to pose a latent and dangerous threat — would not have been possible without the courage and resilience of the Kurdish forces in Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have played, and continue to play, a fundamental role in the fight against the Islamic State.
It is illusory to believe that Turkey alone is capable of addressing the serious challenge posed by IS detainees and their families. Such a hasty and ill-considered decision not only places the lives of countless Syrians at risk, but also risks paving the way for a resurgence of the Islamic State.