AANES ‘strongly’ rejects Turkish threats of attacking northern Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said on Thursday that it ‘strongly’ rejects the Turkish government’s threats of attacking infrastructure in north and northeast Syria.
On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan vowed to avenge a suicide bombing attack in Ankara that took place on Sunday by targeting infrastructure in Syria and Iraq. “From now on, all infrastructure, large facilities and energy facilities belonging to (armed Kurdish groups) in Iraq and Syria are legitimate targets for our security forces.”
Fidan claimed that the bombers had trained in northern Syria before carrying out the attack. “As a result of the work of our security forces, it has become clear that the two terrorists came from Syria and were trained there.”
The AANES said in a statement published on its official website that Turkey is always looking for a pretext to attack AANES-held areas. “It seems that our regions are always targeted whenever Turkey faces a problem or issue. Turkey conveniently forgets the extreme tightening measures on its borders with Syria…. We fail to understand how crossings are possible when Turkey itself tightens its own procedures and erects high barriers on its borders with Syria!”
The AANES statement added that Turkey is trying to shift the attention of the Turkish public opinion from its own internal issues by involving the AANES in the attack.
The statement noted that targeting vital facilities and infrastructure will have severe consequences on humanitarian and living conditions, noting that “it is an aggressive behavior that amounts to committing war crimes.”
The AANES called on the US-led Global Coalition, Russia, the UN, NGOs, and the international community to deter Turkey’s ambitions of tilting the balance in Syria through AANES-held areas.