Russian media: the US completes the first delivery of weapons and armor to Syrian Democratic Forces
On the evening of May 11, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including the Kurdish People's Self-Defense units (YPG and YPJ), received the first delivery of weapons and armor from the United States, RIA Novosti news agency reported citing its source in SDF.
The delivery was made following the decree signed by the US President Donald Trump allowing the supply of heavy weapons to SDF and Kurdish Self-Defense forces.
"Last night, after US president Donald Trump decided to supply us with weapons, we received armored vehicles and heavy weapons. We got a lot of Hummer trucks. The delivery also included tanks, mortars, and infrared-guided rockets. The weapons and armored vehicles were transported from the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan to the Semelka checkpoint and then sent to the Rojava region. From there, the trucks were sent to the district of Kobani and to the south of Tell Abyad (north of Raqqa). These weapons and the armored vehicles will be used extensively during the ongoing operation to liberate Raqqa, in particular during the storming of the city," said the agency's source.
Turkey expressed its dissatisfaction over the possibility of the US supplying the Kurds with weapons. Ankara believes that these Kurdish forces are closely linked to the Kurdistan Labour Party, which was banned in Turkey.
The Syrian democratic forces, supported by American aviation and Special Forces, are conducting a military operation near the Syrian cities of Tabqa and Raqqa. Assad’s government is opposed to this operation saying that the Americans act without the consent of the Syrian authorities.