Tribal leader calls on guarantor states to protect residents of NE Syria from Turkey
TABQA, Syria (North Press) – Hamed al-Faraj, the sheikh of al-Walda tribe in the city of Tabqa, north Syria, called on Thursday the international community and the guarantor states to protect the residents of the region. He also demanded them take an attitude against the Turkish violations and bombing of the areas of northeast Syria.
Since the beginning of April, Turkey has escalated bombing the northeast Syria. It bombed the city of Kobani, Ain Issa and the countryside of Manbij with several mortar and artillery shells, in addition to most of the villages of the town of Zarkan, north of Hasakah.
Following the Turkish invasion of the cities of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad in October 2019, Turkey signed a ceasefire agreement with the Russian and American sides.
Al-Faraj said that the Turkish escalation and bombing spread fear among the residents of the border villages and cities in northern Syria, especially the Turkish President recent statements about his intention to invade the areas of northeast Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday evening an impending military operation into northern Syria to establish a 30 km-deep safe zone along the southern border.
“The military escalation in the region targets the population in the first place. Turkey is committing the most heinous humanitarian crimes against children and women under the pretext of fighting terrorism,” al-Faraj told North Press.
Al-Faraj called on the guarantor countries, the Global Coalition, and the international and human rights organizations to take a firm attitude towards the escalation and recent Turkish statements to invade more areas in NE Syria.
“Through invasion northeast Syria, Turkey aims to destabilize the security and stability that the region has witnessed in the past years, after expelling ISIS,” he said.