Talal Silo

Talal Silo
طلال سلو
Silo in 2016
Birth nameTalal Ali Silo
طلال علي سلو
Born1965 (age 58–59)[1]
Al-Rai, Syria[2]
Allegiance
Service/branchSyrian Armed Forces (1985–2004)
RankColonel
Unit
Commands heldSpokesman of the Syrian Democratic Forces (2015–17)
Commander of the Seljuk Brigade (2013–15)
Battles/warsSyrian Civil War

Talal Ali Silo (طلال سلو; also transliterated Telal Silo, Talal Sallou) is a Syrian Turkmen[3] military personnel who was the official Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesperson from 2014 until his surrender or defection[4] to Turkey in November 2017, covering major SDF operations and battles against the militant group ISIL.[5][6] His departure marked the first major defection among the SDF's top ranks.[3]

During an interview, he alleged that during the SDF capture of Raqqa from ISIL, thousands of ISIL fighters—many more than first reported—left the city under a secret U.S.-approved deal. However, US officials described Silo's comments as “false and contrived”.[7] The deal is argued as a strategic move by the SDF and coalition forces.[8] The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian National Army (SNA) have presented different versions of the reasons behind Silo's departure - reflecting the complexities of the Syrian Civil War.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "US-backed SDF spox Talal Sillo defects from PKK-aligned group, crosses into Turkey". Daily Sabah. 15 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Find out about the biography of the spokesperson of "QSD" Col. Talal Sallou". Buyer Press. 31 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Najjar, Farah (2017). "What is the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Reports: SDF spox Silo defects to FSA, Turkey". Rudaw English. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  5. ^ "U.S.-backed Syria forces say Turkey pressured commander into defecting". Reuters. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  6. ^ "statement to Public opinion". SDF official. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  7. ^ Evans, Dominic; Coskun, Orhan (2017), Defector says thousands of Islamic State fighters left Raqqa in secret deal, Reuters, retrieved 13 June 2016
  8. ^ "SDF commander's claims of Turkish allegiance raise eyebrows". Al-Monitor. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2021-01-02.