FSA rejects US offer to fight alongside PYD in Syria's Deir el-Zour
A general view of the eastern Syrian city of Deir el-Zour on September 20, 2017 (AFP Photo)


The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has turned down the U.S.' offer to fight alongside the PKK's Syrian offshoot People's Protection Units (YPG) dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to liberate Deir el-Zour from Daesh terrorists, saying that they do not want to fight alongside a terrorist group.

FSA-affiliated Maghawir al-Sawra group's spokesperson Muhammad Jarrah has told the Anadolu Agency that they received an offer from the U.S. to fight with the SDF in Deir el-Zour.

He noted that they rejected the offer as they consider the YPG and its political wing Democratic Union Party (PYD) as separatists and that both the SDF and Daesh paralyzed the Syrian uprising and boost Assad's strength.

Jarrah noted that the only condition their group would participate in the liberation operation is by taking "independent steps" as they "do not want to share the burden of crimes committed against Syrian civilians."

"Assad regime and Russian jets committed massive massacres in the city" he added.

Another U.S.-backed moderate opposition group's spokesperson Saed el-Hajj also told Anadolu Agency that they received the same offer from the U.S., but they rejected it.

"The SDF and the regime are from the same group" el-Hajj said, adding that they do not trust the SDF and that such offers aim to create division among moderate opposition groups and destroy their goals and principles.

The spokesperson noted that they are also in favor of an independent road map for Deir el-Zour, not including the SDF.

The PYD started advancing toward Daesh-held Deir el-Zour on Sept. 9, with no resistance from the terrorist group.