Despite the Turkish threats, life goes on as usual in Sare Kani
Sare Kani/Ras Al-Ein – North-Press Agency
Hassan Abdullah
Sare Kani /Ras Al Ein, 80 km north of Hasakah, is one of the cities on the border with Turkey, despite the Turkish threats, life continues normally in this city, and residents confirm that they became accustomed to the psychological warfare and the atmosphere of battles, as they have experienced years ago, and what is rumored is “a media exaggeration of the Turkish military preparations”.
Zaidi Hussein, a 60-year-old man sitting in front of his house, which is less than 200 m from the border, told North-Press that he did not care about the news of the nearby military mobilization, as he witnessed the battles that took place years ago in the city, between the People’s Protection Units and Turkey-backed opposition groups, which attacked the city in 2012. Hussein confirms that he did not leave his house nor the city at that time and he will not leave it now ,as well.
The 60-year-old man adds that they do not want to antagonize Turkey, but that it wants to “eliminate and attack the people of his city,” and he is determined to confront the Turkish army with what he can in case they attack, as he said.
Saleh Ali Matar, a resident of the Kharbat Neighborhood, said his house was only about 300 meters far from the Turkish border and he has not noticed any increase in Turkish army movements or mobilization near the border in the recent days, adding that he only hears about that in the media.
In the same context, Younis Muhammad, an official of Sare Kani organization of the Kurdish Democratic Peace Party in Syria, points out that, “The residents of the city have had previous experiences with the Turkish state and they are determined to stay in their houses and defend them in the face of any attack.” He also asserts that the media coverage of the Turkish military preparations is part of the psychological warfare against the areas of north and eastern Syria.
In recent days, Turkey has increased its military mobilization on its border with north and eastern Syria, coincided with Turkish media campaigns, following statements by senior Turkish officials confirming their intention to establish a “safe zone”, and to drive out the SDF, under the pretext of establishing a “peace corridor”, according to Turkish officials.