The head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), in an interview with Zaman al-Wasl, has vowed to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the border town of Kobani within a short period of time, and denied any cooperation with the Syrian regime for arms.
Saleh Muslim said that Kobani has never been occupied by ISIS.
"Kobani was attacked by fighters of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and soon they will be defeated,” Muslim said.
Muslim has denied the reports that about 70% of Kobani is under ISIS control, saying that fighters from the Kurdish people’s Protection Units (YPG) have surrounded the ISIS fighters.
Regarding relations with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the head of (PYD) explained that he does not think that FSA is a traditional army and it is a group of fighting battalions, and once even included the Nusra Front and ISIS among them.
"But that does not mean there is a lack of battalions which believe in liberated democratic Syria, like the Northern Sun and Liberals of Raqqa, which we communicate and cooperate with,” he said, adding that even "Colonel Ukaidi was not clear about [it], but I believe has re-thought his previous attitudes”, referring to the leader of the revolutionary council in Aleppo.
The PYD leader denied any cooperation with the Syrian regime, and called for anyone who makes that accusation to bring proof.
"We have fought the Syrian regime since 2004, and we are not soldiers for others," he said.
Regard arming, he confirmed that the PYD procures arms on the black market, and funds are generated from the Kurdish people.
He also revealed that about 150-160 fighters from the peshmerga who are expert in anti-armor and anti-tank weapons came to Kobani, and their final number would be determined by the leadership in Iraqi Kurdistan and the PYD.
Speaking about their relations with Turkey and its position on Kobani, he revealed that they did not ask for any help from Turkey, saying all they want from Turkey is to stop the flow of ISIS fighters through its land.
He explained that historically Turkey has a "Kurdish phobia", and because of that they do their best to prevent the Kurds from achieving their own identity and gaining their own territory.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
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