Arab League blocks bid for Kurdish federal region in Syria

The Arab League has rejected the “separatist” Kurdish push for a federal government system in Syria, citing the risks it poses to the territorial integrity of the conflict-ridden country.

“The Arab League rejects such separatist calls that harm the unity of Syria,” Ben Helli told reporters, highlighting Syria’s unity as a “fundamental principle” of the Arab League.

The move was also denounced by the Damascus government, as well as the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition groups, aka the High Negotiations Committee, which took part in the latest round of UN-brokered peace negotiations in Geneva.

The US has also made it clear that it will not recognize any autonomous region set up by the Kurds and their allies under the federation, asserting that Syria’s future government will be negotiated in the UN talks.

The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which is nearly in control of Syria’s entire northern border with Turkey, has been fighting against Daesh. The Kurdish fighters retook from the grips of Takfiri terrorists the Syrian city of Tal Abyad last year.

SS