Top Kurdish leader says Turkey aims to destroy “Rojava”
QMAISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Rojava (North and East Syria) is the first target of the Turkish plan of destruction after the establishment of the “war government” in 28 May elections, said Saleh Muslim, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) on June 18.
Speaking to the Kurdish Firat News Agency (ANF), Muslim said, “as soon as the new Turkish war government was established, Ankara rolled up its sleeves and attempted to attack us. The attacks have not stopped since the elections.”
According to Muslim, by escalating against the areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Turkey wants to show its power to parties of the Astana talks that are scheduled to meet on June 21.
Recently, Turkish forces have escalated their drone strikes and artillery shelling against the AANES areas. They also shot Russian and Syrian government troops. However, neither Moscow nor Damascus issued any statements condemning the Turkish targeting of their forces or extending their condolences to the families of the killed.
Muslim ruled out any Russian reaction as both countries are allies in several issues including the Russian-Ukrainian war. “As for the Syrian regime,” Muslim noted, “it will do nothing but what Russia and Iran say.”
The Kurdish leader pointed out that the Turkish escalation is related to the AANES decision to try ISIS members detained in NE Syria’s prisons saying, “if we bring the mercenaries to trial, Turkey’s crimes and connections will also be exposed.”
“In this trial, which will be held transparently before the eyes of the world, all the crimes committed by Turkish fascism will be exposed. They do not want this, so they continue to attack us.”