The Stream

Syrian Kurds’ moment of opportunity

After military gains and declarations of autonomy, will they emerge as the conflict’s biggest beneficiaries?

People sit in the back of a truck as they celebrate what they said was the liberation of villages from rebels near the city of Ras al-Ain in the province of Hasakah November 6, 2013. Stringer/REUTERS

As the conflict in Syria wages on, is it possible the Kurds will emerge the biggest beneficiaries? Earlier this month the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) announced they would set up a transitional civic administration in Northeastern Syria. The statement was made after their military wing captured key towns and villages. But the move has generated angry reactions from Syrian rebels, Turkey and even rival Kurdish Syrian groups. We’ll look into some of the recent gains they’ve made, but also some of the ongoing problems that plague them. Join us at 19:30 GMT.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak with: 

Omar Hossino, @Omar_Hossino
Syria analyst
 
Sirwan Kajjo, @sirwankajjo
Analyst, Caerus Associates
 
Sinam Mohammad
People’s Council of Western Kurdistan
 
Saif Badrakhan
US representative, Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)
 
Oubai Shahbandar, @OS26
Syrian Support Group

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