Turkey steps up campaign against SDF's Kobane

Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazlum Kobane helped the United States track down and kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, but Turkey claims he is of the same ilk.
Mazloum Kobani, SDF's commander in chief, shakes hands with the advisor for the US Department of State in northern Syria William Robak, at al-Omar oil field in Deir Al Zor, Syria March 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC142AE67C90
Mazlum Kobani, SDF's commander in chief, shakes hands with the adviser for the US Department of State in northern Syria William Robak, at al-Omar oil field in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, March 23, 2019. - REUTERS/Rodi Said
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Amberin Zaman
@amberinzaman

Turkey has stepped up its campaign against Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as part of a broader Turkish effort to deny the US-backed Syrian Kurds political legitimacy. 

Ankara is equating Kobane, who is on Turkey’s most-wanted list, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State (IS) who died in a US military raid in northwest Syria on Saturday.

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