Kurdish militia extends reach to west of Euphrates (development that will likely irk Turkish authorities)

After capturing a dam on Saturday from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Kurdish militia force the People's Protection Units (YPG) moved into territory west of the Euphrates amid ongoing clashes with the radical militant group, a development that will likely irk Turkish authorities in Ankara.

A US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel groups, supported by US coalition planes, captured Tishrin dam on Saturday from ISIL, cutting off one of its main supply routes across the Euphrates.

The dam was taken by thousands of fighters from the YPG and Arab rebel forces, who in doing so have succeeded in dealing a serious blow to ISIL in a bid to isolate it from its stronghold, the city of Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said the alliance has cleared the east of the Euphrates and that clashes are now taking place in areas west of the river.

• Turkey has warned the Kurdish militia not to cross into territory west of the Euphrates, declaring such a move as a red line that would provoke a Turkish response. 

The US and Turkey have long been working on a joint plan to clear the area between Jarabulus and Azaz of ISIL elements. Jarabulus is still under ISIL control and is the group's only link to the outside world.
  todayszaman.com
27/12/15
--
-
Related:

•  Une coalition militaire arabo-kurde a pris samedi aux jihadistes de l'Etat Islamique (EI) un barrage stratégique de l'Euphrate, dans le nord de la Syrie, a annoncé le porte-parole du groupe...

• Syrian Kurds declare new province

• Kurdish-led authorities in northern Syria have declared a new province including a town on the border with Turkey captured from ISIS in June, a Kurdish official said Wednesday, formalizing Kurdish control over the border area... 

• Turkmen forced to flee Syrian town by PYD, PKK (Commander)

• Turkey warns US, Russia over support for Syrian Kurds