The conflicts between Hamas and Israel and Israel and Lebanon are seriously affecting the entire Middle East. At the same time, Israel’s attacks on the bases of Iranian-affiliated armed groups in Syria and frequently on Damascus continue. Turkey’s occupation attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria continue unabated.

ANF spoke with PYD Co-Presidency Board Member Foza Yûsif about the political developments in the region, the dangers facing the people, and the political, diplomatic and defense efforts in Northern and Eastern Syria.

Foza Yûsif underlined that colonial states have turned the Middle East into the center of war in the world and act according to their interests, and added: "Today, a great war is taking place throughout the world. This chaos and conflicts are affecting the Middle East the most. The Middle East has been the center of colonial wars and conflicts of interest for 200 years. There are major conflicts in all four parts of Kurdistan. A major war has been going on throughout Syria, especially in Rojava, for 14 years. The war in Northern and Eastern Syria began with the conscious selection of this region. Unless a political solution is reached in the region, a compromise based on the interests of the Syrian people, there will be no lasting peace. For this reason, security problems have increased even more.

The war in Lebanon and Israel's attacks on Iran are also affecting Syria in general. Occupying and colonialist states have thrown Syria into a ring of fire. Rojava is also in the middle of this fire."

Yûsif added: "Syria is located in a region close to the borders of Turkey and Iraq. Both militarily and politically, neighboring states continue their policies against the Kurdish people, something which is far from finding solutions.

The occupying Turkish state always carries out its current policy in an environment of war and chaos. The policies pursued by Turkey, Israel’s attacks on Iran and operations targeting Northern and Eastern Syria are interconnected. For this reason, we must be prepared for war and conflict as a people and a movement. We witness some hegemonic and imperialist states discussing the preparations of the defense forces of Northern and Eastern Syria in their statements. While these people ignore the threats in Northern and Eastern Syria, they also defend the invasion attacks on Rojava. If we defend a permanent peace, we must also be prepared for war. For this reason, we need to strengthen our defense."

Our defense forces are ready to protect our people

Yûsif underlined that self-defense is of vital importance in a process where the war is growing, and added: "Our defense and security forces, the SDF, YPJ and HPC, are prepared against possible attacks by the occupying Turkish forces against the people of the region. It is essential that our people support their children who are on war fronts. Therefore, our society and our people should support the defense forces with their resistance and defend their country together as they have always done. Everyone living in Northern and Eastern Syria should see themselves as freedom fighters and assume responsibility in this direction, because the right to self-defense is a natural right."

Yûsif continued: "Each country has its own defense and security forces. We, in Northern and Eastern Syria, can defend ourselves against all kinds of attacks and violence with the experience we have gained from the wars in our region. This has been made possible thanks to the philosophy of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. The will of the people of Rojava has defeated the ISIS mercenaries and thwarted the occupation attacks by the Turkish state. Our movement and forces are being trained in line with the ideas of Rêber Apo. Our people should stand by the defense forces with the spirit of the Rojava Revolution and carry out their work on this basis."

The Turkish state wants to benefit from chaos

Drawing attention to the fact that the ongoing war in the Middle East is a power struggle of hegemonic powers, Foza Yûsif said: "Israel is trying to carry the war it is waging against Hezbollah to Syria. Iran, on the other hand, is trying to deepen the conflict even more by increasing its armed forces in Syria. Recently, Iran launched attacks on US bases in Heseke. We, the people living in Northern and Eastern Syria, do not support any side because this war does not serve the interests of the people. The current war is based solely on the interests of the occupying states. However, when a war threatens our region, we will defend ourselves within the framework of the revolutionary people's war and prioritize the interests of our people above all else. Our stance on this issue as members of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria is clear.

In addition, there is a threat coming from the occupying Turkish state to attack the region by taking advantage of the current chaos. Turkey aims to benefit from the current chaos and attacks in line with its own interests. Just as it occupied Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî and Afrin, it is trying to change the demography of the region by occupying all of Northern and Eastern Syria. If this chaos deepens further, the liberated regions may also be affected. Therefore, it is clear that the people living in cities under the control of the Syrian regime will want to migrate to the regions of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria.

In order for this situation not to affect our region further, a political solution must be found as soon as possible. The stance of the Autonomous Administration is very important and meaningful in this regard. Because the Autonomous Administration represents an important work within the unity of Syria. The Autonomous Administration has always shown that it is ready for a solution and negotiation. However, the Damascus regime does not show a positive attitude to the proposal for talks and does not respond. From here, I call on the relevant parties once again. We must strengthen our unity as the people of the region and resist together against any future attacks."