Talal Silo

Talal Silo طلال سلو
Silo in 2016
Birth name	Talal Ali Silo طلال علي سلو
Born	1965 (age 58–59)[1] Al-Rai, Syria[2]
Allegiance	Syrian Arab Republic (1985–2004) Syrian Turkmen Assembly (2013–2015) Syrian Democratic Forces (2015–2017)
Service / branch	Syrian Armed Forces (1985–2004)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Seljuk Brigade (2013–2015) Army of Revolutionaries (2015)
Commands	Spokesman of the Syrian Democratic Forces (2015–17) Commander of the Seljuk Brigade (2013–15)
Battles / wars	Syrian Civil War Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War 2015 al-Hawl offensive Tishrin Dam offensive Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016) Manbij offensive (2016) Turkish military intervention in Syria Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) Battle of Raqqa (2017)

Talal Ali Silo (طلال سلو; also transliterated Telal Silo, Talal Sallou) is a Syrian Turkmen^[3] former 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

• Seljuk Brigade
• Syrian Democratic Forces

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. 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.