The Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) issued a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the occupation of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî by the Turkish state. Calling for an end to the occupation and for displaced residents to be allowed to return, MSD stated that “identities are being erased in the occupied areas.”
The statement noted that the attacks launched on October 9, 2019, resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of more than 200,000 people. MSD stressed that these attacks constitute one of the gravest violations against Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement added that the collapse of the Ba’ath regime in December 2024 and the establishment of the transitional government gave Syrians new hope to restore their national dignity. However, it emphasized that the continued Turkish occupation and the presence of Turkish-backed armed groups in occupied territories make the transitional government directly responsible. MSD called on the Transitional Government to take concrete steps to end the occupation.
The statement also underlined that international law is being systematically violated in the occupied cities, and that the historical identity and social fabric of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî are being deliberately destroyed. MSD declared that ending the occupation and ensuring the withdrawal of armed groups is a national responsibility, a prerequisite for the success of the transitional process and for achieving security and stability in Syria.
MSD called for the implementation of the March 10 Agreement, which guarantees Syria’s political unity and a just resolution process, and urged international powers and legal institutions to act. The statement demanded that the return of forcibly displaced citizens be guaranteed and that normal life be restored in the occupied areas.
In conclusion, MSD reaffirmed its commitment to the political struggle and to building a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria.