SDF warns attacks on Kobani risk chaos, return of ISIS
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday that attacks on the city of Kobani, northern Syria, risk plunging the area into chaos and paving the way for a resurgence of terrorism.
In a statement marking the 11th anniversary of Kobani’s liberation from the Islamic State (ISIS), the SDF said that targeting the city today represents “a direct attack on the symbolism of victory over ISIS and an act of revenge against a city that defeated the group’s project.”
The statement added that such attacks cannot be separated from broader attempts to undermine stability and open the door to chaos and the return of terrorism.
The SDF addressed the international community, stressing that “protecting the gains achieved in the fight against ISIS and ensuring the security and stability of areas that paid a heavy price in this war is not a political choice, but a shared moral and legal responsibility.”
It warned that silence over what Kobani is facing contradicts the sacrifices made to defeat terrorism and undermines international efforts to combat it.
The SDF reaffirmed its full commitment to continuing the fight against ISIS, cautioning that any destabilization in northeast Syria poses a direct threat to regional and international security and gives terrorist groups real opportunities to reorganize and resume their activities.
For more than 10 days, the Kurdish city of Kobani, located along the Syrian-Turkish border, has witnessed a large wave of displacement from surrounding rural areas toward the city due to clashes between the SDF and forces of the Syrian transitional government. The city is also facing a blockade that has cut off access to basic necessities.
By Abdulsalam Khoja