Kurdish militia YPG plans massive attack against ISIS to seal Turkish border

The Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG) and its local allies in Syria have reportedly chalked out plans for a major attack to seize a stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border currently held by ISIS fighters.

The group is pursuing a two-way risk as the offensive will deprive ISIS of a pivotal logistical route for supplies and foreign recruits, but has the potential to offend Turkish authorities.

An unnamed YPG source said that although there was no fixed date, it may be close to 29 January, Kurdish news website Xeber24 reported.

The plan includes crossing the Euphrates to attack ISIS-held towns of Jarablus and Manbij, in addition to Azaz, which is occupied by other groups, Reuters said.

Turkey, however, has said it will not allow the Syrian Kurds to move west of the Euphrates, International Business Times reported.