Since the fight against Daesh (also known as ISIS, ISIL, and the self-proclaimed Islamic State) began in December 2014, the Kurds have been widely recognized as the most effective combat force on the ground.
Time and time again, Kurds have proven their ability to seize ground from Daesh (pronounced dah-esh), and hold that ground when Daesh terrorists launch counter-attacks.
Partnering with the U.S.-led Coalition
Earlier this summer, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter praised the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces in Syria, saying,
We are doing more in Syria from the air.. and the opportunity to do that effectively is provided… by the effective action on the ground by Kurdish forces.”
U.S. State Department John Kirby also spoke out in support of the YPG, and said that the United States will continue to work with the YPG and other effective forces on the ground in Syria. Said Kirby,
We don’t consider the YPG a terrorist organization, and they have proven successful against ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] inside Syria. And as I said, we’re going to continue to work with counter-ISIL fighters who are and can be successful against this group.”
In recent months, the Pentagon has airdropped small weapons and ammunition to the newly created Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of anti-Syrian regime fighters who are widely comprised of Kurdish fighters from the YPG and YPJ (Women’s Protection Units).
Poll Results
We turned to the Kurdish Project community to ask their opinions, and the response was overwhelmingly in support of the Kurdish fighters.
- 97% of Men said “yes”; 92% of Women said “yes”
- The largest age group that took the poll was between the ages of 18 and 24
- 93% of 697 Americans said “yes”
- 70% of 23 Canadians said “yes”
- 78% of 23 Australians said “yes”
- 96% of 46 Iraqis said “yes”
- 86% of 65 Turks said “yes”
- 93% of 15 French said “yes”
- 95% of 121 Brits said “yes”
Check out the results above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
