AANES official warns of rising threats in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ilham Ahmed, head of foreign relations in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), warned on Tuesday that ongoing events in Syria pose grave risks to the country and the wider region, increasing the likelihood of foreign intervention and the resurgence of terrorism beyond Syria’s borders.
Speaking at a press conference held via Zoom and attended by North Press, Ahmed said the Syrian transitional government bears primary responsibility for failing to implement the March 10 agreement. She added that recent events in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood began with a media campaign targeting Kurdish areas, noting that government-affiliated factions had repeatedly attacked the neighborhoods in recent months, creating what she described as a crisis.
Ahmed stated that the Syrian Ministry of Defense officially announced a military operation against Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. She explained that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had withdrawn from the neighborhoods under an April 1 agreement, but the government continued to portray the SDF as present, launching a heavy assault involving nearly 80 tanks.
According to Ahmed, the attacks resulted in the deaths of 48 people and injuries to 118 others, with dozens still unaccounted for. She accused the attacking factions of committing severe violations in Aleppo, revealing that fighters from the Islamic State (ISIS), Uyghur militants, Turkish groups, and other foreign elements participated in the offensive against Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.
Ahmed further highlighted that one of the conditions for lifting U.S. and Western sanctions on Syria was the protection of minorities and the removal of foreign fighters. She said the government has instead targeted Alawites, Druze, Christians, and now Kurds.
She called on the U.S. government to clarify its position regarding the Syrian government’s actions, stressing that Kurds have not harmed Damascus or any other party, but rather protected the region from ISIS.
Ahmed emphasized that the AANES remains committed to dialogue and negotiations, provided that attacks cease and guarantees are given for the protection of Kurds in Aleppo and Afrin.