The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose entity of opposition rebel groups, have presented different versions of the reasons behind General Talal Silo‘s departure.

Silo served as the SDF‘s spokesperson, and his parting marks the first major defection among the forces‘ top ranks. While the SDF refuses to acknowledge the departure as an official resignation, the FSA says his defection has been „in the works for a very long time“. Silo, who belongs to the Turkmen ethnicity, previously served as a high-ranking general within the FSA when the group was first created.