HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) spokesman Luqman Ahme, said that “Turkey has become empowered by the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan because they share the same mentality, which is the destruction of peoples’ freedom.”
Ahme, in a statement to North Press, linked the Turkish escalation in northeastern Syria to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, after a two-decade war that ended with the Taliban taking power and declaring an Islamic emirate.
Over the past few days, the Turkish forces have escalated their aerial and ground bombardment on the areas of northeastern Syria, which are held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), at a time when the world is preoccupied with the consequences of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s seizure of power there.
“Whenever any US military movements occur, anywhere in the world, Turkey wants to exploit them and makes military development,” said Ahme.
The Turkish bombardment extended from the villages of Tel Tamr and the town of Zargan (Abu Rasin), in the countryside of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, to the northern countryside of Aleppo and Tel Rifaat, passing through the villages of Manbij, causing civilian casualties, including women and children, in addition to fighters and leaders of SDF.
For the first time, a Turkish drone (according to an official statement from the People’s Protection Units, YPG), targeted the vehicle of an YPG leader. The bombing was followed by targeting the headquarters of the Tel Tamr Military Council Relations in the center of the town.
The official spokesman said, “The Turkish plan to control northern Syria, and the Kurdistan region, including the Mosul region, is old one.”
On Friday, the Executive Council of Jazira Region of AANES condemned, in a statement, the latest Turkish attacks on the towns of Zargan and Tel Tamr, northeast Syria, and called on the international community and mediators to break their silence and act to halt “the crimes that Turkey is committing.”
On Tuesday, a child and a woman lost their lives and others were wounded as a result of the Turkish shelling of the town of Zargan and several surrounding villages in northeast Syria.
About 15 people, including children, were wounded, and six of them were transferred to People’s Hospital in Hasakah while the other wounded were transferred to hospitals in Derbasiya and Amuda.
“The successive Turkish attacks are a blatant violation of international law and conventions, and also of the agreements signed between Russia and America regarding cessation of hostilities,” the statement said.
Most recently, on Sunday, a Turkish drone targeted a military vehicle in the village of Himo in the western countryside of Qamishli city, causing an unknown number of injuries.
In October 2019, Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements, one with the US and another with Russia, after the Turkish military operation in Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad. However, violations of the ceasefire by Turkey and its affiliated opposition groups occur on a regular basis.
Under these agreements, the SDF withdrew from the city of Sere Kaniye after around ten days of battles with Turkish forces, and the SDF accused Turkey of using internationally prohibited weapons.
Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman Aram Hanna told North Press that the Turkish escalation comes within the framework of “Turkish attempts to undermine the will of our people, weaken our efforts, and resist the democratic Autonomous Administration and our forces as well.”
He pointed out that the current efforts of the Autonomous Administration focus on finding official recognition, “and this is urgent and a fact that cannot be denied through diplomatic efforts.”
Hanna added that their forces have taken the necessary defensive measures to ensure the security and safety of civilians.
The General Command of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement on Friday that their forces “will not stand by regarding Turkish attacks” and that “losing officials, fighters, and civilians” will not pass without a response.
“The silence and ambiguous position of the ceasefire guarantor countries, including the US and Russia, is encouraging Turkey to escalate its shelling and attacks on our civilians and lands, so we are reminding them of their responsibilities and call on them to clarify their position,” SDF command added.
“Also, this silence will provide the appropriate circumstance for the occupying power to continue its violations, and this will negatively affect our efforts in continuing the fight against terrorism, pursuing ISIS remnants, and taking care of prisons and camps that house militants and their families,” said SDF command.