MSD held a workshop in the Martyr Axin Welat Hall in the Fafin district of Shehba canton about the relations of the Turkey and Syrian regimes with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists and the proposals for a democratic Syria. Many politicians and representatives of political parties attended the workshop.

The General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazlum Abdi attended the workshop via Zoom. He drew attention to the targets and approach of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (former Al Nusra) mercenaries in the Afrin canton.

Abdi said: "4 years have passed since the occupation of Afrin. During this time, many developments took place in Syria, especially in the occupied areas and Afrin. The invaders tried to maintain their hegemony in these regions. However, with the resistance, the inhabitants of Afrin had a steely strength."

Attention drawn to the plans of the Turkish state

Abdi continued: "As the Turkish occupation could not impose its policy in occupied Afrin through mercenary groups, Turkey planned to carry out these policies by bringing the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham mercenaries to those regions. Recently, after the Syrian regime and the Turkish state got closer, some mercenary groups saw that this policy did not serve them. The invasion using Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will teach these mercenaries a lesson and warn them that there is an alternative."

Emphasizing that the people should know that the recent events have changed the positions of the mercenaries, Abdi said: "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is able to carry out its agenda because they saw the invasion. They were replaced by other mercenaries that could not make any progress against the SDF fighters."

'The conspiracy will be defeated. Afrin will be saved'

Abdi continued: "Today, the Turkish occupation continues its plans through the al-Qaeda organization represented by Tahrir al-Sham. It actually seeks help in the occupation of other parts of Syria as well. However, it seems that the world is fighting terrorism. This is just cheating the world and we must expose it. Afrin was occupied not only by Turkey, but by all the countries of the world through a great conspiracy."

Noting that the defeat of this conspiracy will be the beginning of Afrin's liberation, Abdi said: "We must prepare the conditions for Afrin's liberation from the Turkish occupation. The most important things are our political and military conditions. We have the power to liberate not only Afrin but all the occupied lands."

Mazlum Abdi said: "What we need to do now is to expose the crimes of the Turkish occupation and take action to influence national and international powers and parties. This is the basis of Afrin liberation from the Turkish occupation, but it needs time."

Regarding the approach of the Turkish invasion to the government of Damascus, Abdi said: "The most dangerous thing that the region goes through is the occupation of the Syrian regions by Turkey. On the other hand, it is the Turkish attempt to get closer to the government of Damascus. It brings with it the division of the Syrian government, and makes the Turkish occupation permanent in those regions because there is no reaction to it."

Abdi continued: "Syria's future is not to get closer to the Turkish state. Because the Turkish state is trying to invade other parts of Syria and annex its lands, as it did in Hatay. The future of Syria is Syria's interests and the Autonomous Administration, which will make stability and security prevail.

The invading Turkish state tried to launch a new attack on the region a few months ago. Erdogan constantly made propaganda for this. But the obvious and the changing political situation did not allow him to carry out these attacks.”

Abdi added: "Since Turkey did not get approval for the attacks, it hastened to make concessions to the Syrian government and made plans to weaken the SDF and the Autonomous Administration, but failed to achieve any goal."

People’ resistance will save Afrin

Regarding the historical resistance raised by the people of Shehba and the neighbourhoods of Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiye, Abdi said: "These three places are surrounded by the Syrian government, but the residents of the region are resisting. The conditions are very difficult, but their resistance is the guarantee of saving Afrin from the mercenaries and from the occupation."

Abdi said: "Our plans are to alleviate the suffering of the residents of the region by discussing solutions with the Syrian government or other parties. Thus, our main agenda is for the Autonomous Administration to be able to provide services and improve their living conditions."