Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi spoke to ANHA about the attacks on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah neighborhoods in Aleppo by armed groups supported by the Turkish state and affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government.
Saluting the resistance of the Internal Security Forces of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, Mazloum Abdi said: “The Internal Security Forces of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah neighborhoods are resisting heroically. Despite the armed groups using heavy weapons, the Internal Security Forces are defending their neighborhoods with light weapons and with the support of local young people. This confirms the heroism and determination of our people. We salute our people who stand by their children within the Internal Security Forces against these illegitimate attacks. As the SDF, we say that if the attacks increase and our people’s lives are threatened, we will not remain silent.”
Abdi drew attention to the interim government’s declaration of both neighborhoods as military zones and to the indiscriminate attacks against residents, and said: “These attacks are actions aimed at forcibly displacing the Kurdish residents of the two neighborhoods by military force, and this is a war crime.”
Stressing that attempts to forcibly displace the people of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah are unacceptable under any circumstances, Abdi said: “We will stand against these attacks.”
Abdi added that since the beginning of the attacks they have been working with relevant parties to stop the fighting. “Since the start of the attacks, we have made efforts through our own channels or through de-escalation proposals presented by guarantor parties in Syria. However, so far, representatives of the Syrian government have not responded to us and have rejected all ceasefire efforts without providing any justification.”
Emphasizing that the interim Syrian government’s use of military force would drag the country back into violence and cause suffering for everyone, Abdi said: “In this way, all the agreements signed on March 10 and April 1 between the General Council of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiah neighborhoods and representatives of the interim Syrian government are being violated. In particular, Article 3 of the April 1 agreement states: ‘The Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Forces are responsible for protecting the residents of both neighborhoods.’ Moreover, the attack violates international norms and laws that require the protection of civilians from conflict.”
Stating that dialogue and negotiation are the basis for a comprehensive resolution of problems, Mazloum Abdi said: “Since negotiation is the way to resolve problems, we attach importance to dialogue.”