Washington Denies Establishing a Military Base in Kobani

5th January 2025

3 minutes read

Washington Denies Establishing a Military Base in Kobani

A Pentagon spokesperson confirms that the United States supports Syria’s territorial integrity and the political stabilization process, in an effort to reassure Turkey, which is concerned about U.S. support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced on Friday that there are no plans or intentions to establish a U.S. military base in the Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) area, located in the Aleppo province, northern Syria. This comes amid escalating clashes between Turkey-backed factions and the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Deputy Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated at her first press conference of the year, commenting on circulating news about the establishment of a U.S. military base in Kobani: “I have seen some of those reports, and there is no plan to build a military base in Kobani (Ayn al-Arab).”

She reiterated that U.S. troops are present in Syria to defeat ISIS permanently, emphasizing that there are no U.S. soldiers in Ayn al-Arab. “There is currently no plan or intention to establish any base in Kobani, and I’m not sure about the source of this news,” she added.

She stressed that the United States supports Syria’s territorial integrity and the political stabilization process, but this will only be possible by defeating ISIS and other terrorist groups. However, this stance has not convinced Turkey, which has repeatedly stated that it is unacceptable to fight a terrorist organization using another terrorist organization.

Reports had discussed a U.S. plan to create a military base in Kobani, five years after withdrawing from the area, indicating that a convoy of trucks arrived in the city on Thursday carrying logistical reinforcements, including prefabricated rooms, surveillance cameras, drilling machines, concrete blocks, and fuel tanks.

The reports added that the coalition would set up its base in a hotel in the city center, coinciding with the arrival of special teams to oversee the construction operations. More than 400 trucks entered through the Al-Walid border crossing with Iraq, and 18 cargo planes landed at the Kharab al-Jir base near the town of Rmeilan in northeastern Syria.

Ankara is deeply concerned about the cooperation between Washington and the SDF, and Turkish officials have repeatedly expressed their concerns, particularly regarding the SDF‘s relationship with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). U.S. officials, however, have reassured Turkey, saying they understand Turkey’s security concerns.

The U.S. emphasizes the need for the formation of an inclusive government that brings together all ethnicities and communities, including Kurds, to end the division and tensions in the country.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Friday that heavy fighting was ongoing between Turkish-backed factions and the Kurdish-led SDF in the Manbij area of northern Syria. The Observatory said at least 28 members of Turkish-backed militias were killed in clashes near Manbij, also noting that several villages had been subjected to heavy artillery bombardment by the Turkish army.

The SDF stated that Turkey-loyal forces had launched a large-scale attack on several villages south and east of Manbij, but noted that the attack had been successfully repelled. Meanwhile, the Turkish army shelled the area around the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River and also used drones during the attack.