Families of ISIS’ victims in Syria’s Manbij condemn Turkey’s threats
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – In a public statement, families of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) victims in Manbij, a city in northern Syria, condemned recent Turkish threats to invade the cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat under the pretext of protecting national security and establishing the “safe zone”.
On June 9, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his willingness to create a “safe zone” in northern Syria. “We hope that none of our true allies or friends will object to these legitimate security concerns of our country, or particularly go for terrorist organizations,” he said.
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 30-35 km (19-22 miles) deep into Syrian territory that Turkey started to establish in 2019 to settle 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 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.
In their statement, the families of the ISIS’ victims said that the latest Turkish threats of launching a new military operation in northern Syria is just “part of its political ambitions to expand its presence in the Syrian territories, achieve its interests and impose its dominance over the region.”
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).
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.
Turkey, with the help of its affiliated armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), seek to destabilize the region and spread fear among the residents. This is done by frequently shelling inhabited villages and laying the ground for its SNA factions to commit violations regularly, the statement read.
The statement said that the Turkish “safe zone” project is a “threat to the entire Syrian territory.” It also noted that the project aims at implementing demographic change in the region, as Turkey seeks to replace the original inhabitants with the families of the SNA factions, repeating the Scenario of Afrin, Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye.
The families’ statement called on the international community, civil society organizations and guarantors, particularly the US and Russia, to “take a firm position regarding the Turkish violations, and the repeated shelling which targets these regions under the pretext of fighting terrorism and threatening Turkey’s National Security.”