Emîn Salih: Residents will return after troop withdrawal

Emîn Salih, a member of the Executive Council of the internal security forces (Asayish) in Kobanê, and one of the officials who took part in the delegation that visited Aleppo, spoke to ANF about the talks held with the Aleppo Security Forces and the agreements that were reached.

Salih said the visit was based on the agreement signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Transitional Damascus Government, adding that the meeting addressed the methods and mechanisms for the integration of the Kobanê internal security forces into the Aleppo Governorate.

According to the information shared by Salih, the districts that will be administratively linked to Kobanê were determined during the talks. He said, “The districts of Sheikhs (Şêxler), Sirin (Sirîn), and Chalabi (Çelebî) will be attached to Kobanê. We discussed how the system will function and how the districts will be integrated.”

Salih also noted that, in discussions on the return of the residents of Sheikhs to their homes, an understanding was reached on the withdrawal of military forces from the fronts to the southeast of Sheikhs on the Qina side.

Emîn Salih stated that the Kobanê internal security forces are expected to enter the Chalabi district as of today, adding that this step would mark the beginning of the return of residents to their homes and areas.

Salih said that during the talks, the presence of military forces linked to Damascus in Sheikhs was assessed as a major problem. He noted that the military forces had withdrawn from the area, that the Aleppo internal security forces had taken their place, and that the Kobanê internal security forces were ready to join the security forces operating in the area.

Salih said the current focus is on halting the clashes and continued: “Because military forces entered the Kobanê region, our main demand is that they leave the area and withdraw. In this way, the internal security forces can take their place and the Kurdish people can return to their villages. Overall, stability can be achieved through this path. These are the issues we are working on.”

Salih added that the process has been moving somewhat slowly due to the presence of military forces linked to Damascus, but that once these forces withdraw, faster steps will be taken to implement the agreement.