Syria’s Afrin Autonomous Administration condemns international inaction over Turkey’s threats
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, Autonomous Administration of Afrin region, which is operating in the northern countryside of Aleppo, condemned the international inaction regarding threats released by the Turkish president.
The Kurdish Autonomous Administration was founded in Afrin in 2014, but after the Turkish invasion of the region in 2018, it turned to Shahba region in Aleppo northern countryside.
The administration condemned the international inaction over the threats by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the silence of humanitarian and human rights organizations over attacks that cause material and human losses in the region.
On May 23, Erdogan announced taking steps to complete the so-called remained portions of the “safe zone” plan along Turkey’s southern border saying, “We will soon take new steps regarding the incomplete portions of the project we started on the 30 km deep safe zone we established along our southern border.”
The Turkish “safe zone” is an area of 30-35 km (19-22 miles) deep into Syrian territory that Turkey started establishing in 2019 to house Syrian refugees in an area along its border with Syria, as well as to keep it free from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which it regards as terrorists.
On May 25, Turkey’s National Security Council said that Turkey’s “existing and future military operations along its southern borders were necessary for the country’s security.” In the meeting, Erdogan delivered a speech to the MPs of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and said, “Turkish military would continue to rid its neighbour of terrorists” refers to the SDF.
On June 1, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his threats of launching a military operation on northern Syria, and specified his targets in the two Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat, which include many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The administration’s condemnation came in a statement highlighted the continuing process of building settlements on lands belonging to original inhabitants of Afrin, who are now residing in camps, aiming at settling families of the SNA members under umbrella of Arab and western countries.
On May 3, the Turkish president disclosed about his plan to settle about one million Syrian refugees in 13 Syrian areas, which are not the areas the refugees are originally from, adjacent to the southern border of Turkey starting from Azaz in the west to Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the east.
“We are preparing a new project for the voluntary return of one million Syrian brothers who are in our country as guests,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish state continues to adopt a genocide policy against the original inhabitants through ongoing threats to launch a potential military operation on many areas in the Syrian north particularly Manbij and Tel Rifaat, the statement read.