US says it supports territorial integrity of Syria

WASHINGTON

The U.S. remains committed to supporting Syria’s territorial integrity and a “united Syria”, a senior State Department official said on Jan. 8.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, was responding to a question by Anadolu Agency about media reports that northern parts of Syria held under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group dominated by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), would be recognized as an independent region by the U.S.

Turkey considers the PYD, and its armed win People’s Protection Units (YPG), as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and terrorist groups.

“We support the territorial integrity of Syria and a unified and democratic Syria in which the rights of all groups are protected. The future of Syria is to be decided by Syrians, consistent with the political transition and election process enshrined in UNSCR 2254,” the official said, referring to a U.N. Security Council resolution that reaffirms the sovereignty of Syria.

“We would urge all Syrian parties to work together in a manner consistent with UNSCR 2254 in order to advance the UN-led political process.”

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense emphasized that the U.S.-led coalition, known officially as Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), will continue.

“The Syrian regime continues to prove it is incapable of preventing [ISIL] from using Syria as a safe haven and plotting attacks against the U.S. homeland,” it said, adding the coalition will continue its operations as the Syrian regime is unable to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).