“There were Turkish attacks very close to a base in Ain Issa and Russia did not say a word,” Riyad Khalaf, chairman of the SDF’s Gire Spi (Tel Abyad) Military Council told Rudaw via video call.

“Initially in our talks with the Syrian government, they were trying to pressure us into giving in the lands of Ain Issa to the Syrian government,” he added.

Other Rojava officials have also accused Russia of pressuring Rojava into giving land to Damascus.

Amina Omar, co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) – the political arm of the SDF – told Rudaw on Friday that “Russia pressures the SDF to push it to hand over Ain Issa to Damascus.”

Ain Issa, in Raqqa province, has been a hotspot for attacks from Turkey-backed militants, which have intensified in recent months.

Russians are present in the town but have been slammed by Kurdish officials and locals for their “indifference” against regular attacks from Turkish proxies.

Pro-Turkey militants carried out fresh attacks on Friday against the Kurdish-led SDF in Ain Issa, with several civilian casualties reported by local outlets.

Two civilians were killed in the clashes, according to SDF-affiliated North Press Agency (NPA), which reported heavy Turkish artillery fire.

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