Continued Confrontation Between Turkish Army and Kurdish Protesters in Kobani

Tensions at the Turkey-Kobani border continue, and on Friday, during gunfire from Turkish military forces at Kurdish protesters at the Kobani border, two civilians were killed and eighty others were injured. Unrest in the Kobani area has been ongoing for over a week; Syrian Kurds accuse the Turkish government of provocative border actions, while the Turkish government claims that its military presence in border areas is to simultaneously combat ISIS and the People's Protection Units. Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council, in an interview with Radio Farda, explains the reasons for these clashes at the Kobani border: 'The Turkish government wants to advance several meters into the territory of Syrian Kurdistan and build a border wall there. Yesterday (Friday), they targeted protesters from Kobani with tear gas and bullets. Specifically, the people of Kobani expressed dissatisfaction with the Turkish army's entry more than 20 meters into Kobani territory.' The Turkish government states that it will not allow Syrian Kurds in the north of the country to have an autonomous government and simultaneously demands the complete withdrawal of Kurdish forces from west of the Euphrates River. Meanwhile, a number of Kurds residing in 'Pirsus' Turkey, along with a representative from 'Rojava' in the Turkish parliament, marched in the border area in protest against the Turkish army's actions and in support of the Kobani protesters. Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the 'Syrian Democratic Council,' discusses diplomatic efforts to reduce conflicts and disagreements between Turkey and Syrian Kurds: 'Previously, there were relations between us and the Turkish government, but they later stopped. We seek good neighborly relations with Turkey. Until now, our forces have not responded to the Turkish government's provocative actions because we fundamentally do not wish to be hostile to the Turkish government, but they practically have a hostile approach towards us. Just as they do not recognize the political existence of Turkish Kurds, they want to deny our political existence as well.' The Turkish government accuses Kurdish forces in Syria of aligning with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and emphasizes that their rise poses a threat to Turkey's national security. After the Turkish army and Syrian forces supported by it entered Jarabulus, tensions between the Turkish army and Syrian Kurds increased, raising concerns and criticisms from the U.S. In this context, the Turkish army and the 'Jarabulus Military Council' agreed, with U.S. mediation, to cease hostilities in the Jarabulus area, although some Turkish officials rejected a ceasefire with Syrian Kurdish forces. Ilham Ahmed states that the U.S. has met with Syrian Kurds and that American officials are making efforts to create an agreement between Syrian Kurds and the Turkish government focused on 'preventing the escalation of conflicts.' According to her, these discussions are ongoing. The U.S. is simultaneously an ally of both Syrian Kurds and the Turkish government, urging both forces to focus on combating ISIS instead of engaging with each other. Kobani is a city that witnessed extensive clashes between ISIS and the People's Protection Units two years ago. During these clashes, Syrian Kurds managed to defeat and push back ISIS with the air support of U.S. forces. The battle of Syrian Kurds against ISIS in Kobani is referred to globally as a 'historic resistance.'