Tribal leaders in Syria’s Manbij condemn Turkish attacks on NE Syria
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – Elders and tribal leaders in the city of Manbij, northern Syria, condemned on Wednesday the Turkish attacks on northern and northeastern Syria, saying they aim at destabilizing the region and affecting the lives of its inhabitants.
This came in a joint statement by the tribes in Manbij in protest against the recent Turkish bombardment that targeted around 50 sites in the region, the majority of which were vital infrastructure facilities.
Farouk al-Mashi, an elder of the Boubana clan, stated that targeting infrastructure has repercussions on the lives of 5 million people.
He added that the Turkish attacks undermine security and stability and revive the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Turkish bombardment targeted the vicinity of the Allaya prison in the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, which houses ISIS detainees. Turkey also bombed medical centers in Qamishli and the city of Kobani, northern Syria.
Muhammad Sadiq al-Asidi, spokesman for the Manbij Notables Council, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), believed that the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region aim to depopulate the area of its original inhabitants as a prelude to demographic change.
He stated that Turkey has targeted the AANES-held areas through various means, including cutting the water of the Euphrates River, attempting to incite tribal conflicts, and repeatedly shelling and bombing safe areas.
Fahd Shalash, an elder of the Beni Saeed tribe, stated that Turkey’s actions amount to war crimes and violate the international law.
He called on the U.S.-led Global Coalition and Russia to fulfill their duties towards the AANES-controlled areas and stand against Turkey to deter its human rights violations.