France settles in PKK-occupied territory in Syria

France has started to settle in territory occupied by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization in Syria’s east. Behind France’s military mobilization lies key figures of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) illegitimate Sept. 25, 2017 referendum, French politician Bernard Kouchner and French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy.

The illegitimate Sept. 25 referendum saw Iraqis in KRG-controlled areas -- and in a handful of territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, including the historical Turkmen city of Kirkuk and Mosul -- vote on whether to declare independence from Iraq's central government. The illegitimate referendum had been sharply criticized by most regional and international actors, many of whom warned that the poll would further destabilize the Middle East.

France initiated its military deployment to Syria once U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would withdraw American troops from the country soon. Soldiers are deployed in Manbij, Tell Abayd, Ayn Issa and Deir ez-Zor.

Former French Foreign Minister Kouchner and Lévy, who is dubbed the French Lawrence of Arabia, visited al-Hasakah and Raqqa four times in the past six months.

France is currently constructing military bases in al-Hasakah, Manbij, Tabqa, Tell Abayd and Ayn Issa, and has recently provided active support on the field to the PKK in Deir ez-Zor.

Dara Mustafa, a so-called official Democratic Union Party (PYD), described French activity in the region as pleasing. The PYD is the Syrian extension of the PKK.

“We discussed many things during the meetings we held with Hollande, Macron and Kouchner. I believe we understand each other. Our ties with France are in a good state. We will protect these lands from internal and external attacks together,” said Mustafa, who is the PYD’s so-called diplomatic relations official.

French President Emmanuel Macron received a delegation of the PKK/PYD-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Elysee Palace in March vowing his support for them in northern Syria.

“France has stated many times that it is determined to protect the values of northern Syria and Rojava. France has positioned its troops across a wide stretch from Deriq, Deir ez-Zor, Manbij and Kobane and is supporting our forces both technically and militarily. They will protect this region,” he added during an interview with BasNews.

Mustafa also stated that the PYD opened a representative office of the Rojava Autonomous Administration in France.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.