Thread by @NicholasAHeras

1/#SDF chief Gen. Mazloum: (1)Sent a letter to #Trump asking for mediation with #Turkey; (2) Requested a No Fly Zone to stop #Turkish airstrikes over #Syrian airspace. The U.S. not stopping Turkish airstrikes over the SDF Zone in N/E #Syria is the major source of tension now.

2/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: "When our soldiers see how their mothers and fathers are being attacked and killed, and #Turkey is using our airspace to do it, that makes them angry with the United States." #Syria

3/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: Still time for mediation with #Turkey to end the fighting in N/E #Syria. The SDF demands that #Turkish airstrikes stop (after US closes airspace), Turkish artillery strikes also. Also an end to cross-border raids with TSK and #Syrian rebel proxies.

4/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: There is definitely coordination between #Turkey, #Russia and #Iran. All of them want to see the SDF destroyed and to take its territory in N/E #Syria. At the same time #Turkish forces attack the SDF, #Iranian-backed groups are attacking in Deir Azzour.

5/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: The SDF leadership understands that U.S. forces on the ground in N/E #Syria are not responsible for #Trump's decisions. There is a great bond between the SDF and the U.S. military. The problem is with the U.S. policymakers, not the U.S. military.

6/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: The SDF leadership won't put U.S. forces in N/E #Syria in danger and ask them to help in the fight against #Turkey. They understand that until #Trump changes his mind, U.S. forces can do nothing. It's a #Turkish-SDF battle that the SDF must fight alone.

7/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: No written agreement between SDF and U.S. concerning care of #ISIS prisoners in N/E #Syria. SDF will treat them as well as it can and it doesn't want them to go free and likely run to #Turkey. But until the #Turkish war stops the prisoners are secondary.

8/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: #ISIS has a clear strategy to use prison breaks to replenish ranks in N/E #Syria while SDF is distracted by the war against #Turkey. SDF is responsible for 12k+ ISIS fighters/100K+ ISIS families. Half of the prisons within #Syrian-#Turkish border area.

9/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: SDF had 400 prison guards for #ISIS camps before the #Turkish war began. At least 100 guards have been reassigned to the fight vs. #Turkey. SDF cannot fight ISIS in #Syria, guard ISIS prisoners, and defend the #Syrian-#Turkish border at the same time.

10/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: SDF leadership estimates more than 1 million people could be displaced over the coming month from the #Syrian-#Turkish border area as a result of #Turkey's war. SDF is concerned that INGOs will not be able to access N/E #Syria to help care for them.

11/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: Convoys entering N/E #Syria from the #KRG are mostly supplies for the U.S. military. SDF needs resupply of weapons and ammunition that it had been using for the counter-#ISIS campaign. Resisting #Turkey's war will dangerously deplete supplies further.

12/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: SDF leadership does not think the U.S. will leave #Syria completely. U.S. military is still doing normal patrols outside of #Turkish-created warzone. SDF is worried that #Turkey's #Syrian rebel proxies would attack U.S. forces if given the chance.

13/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: #Turkey's strategy is based on #Afrin campaign. Goal of #Turkish op in N/E #Syria is ethnic cleansing. Right now Turkey wants Tal Abyad/Ras Al Ayn. But if it can capture these cities, Turkey will not stop until it has conquered every area on the border.

14/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: SDF is preparing for long campaign against #Turkey and #Turkish backed #Syrian rebels that could last more than a year. SDF will fight for every meter of N/E #Syria and knows that there's no option to retreat. If U.S. closes the airspace, SDF will win.

15/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: We don't want to stop working with the U.S. We're true friends with the U.S. We'll turn to #Assad as very last resort. Assad will have to accept our presence in N/E #Syria. #Trump has time to change this situation for better but it's running out. FINISH