Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration co-chair, Bedran Çiya Kurd, evaluated the simultaneous attacks carried out by the Turkish state against Rojava, Shengal and Maxmur on Tueday night and said that these attacks were connected to the 20 January Hesêkê attack.

How do you evaluate the simultaneous attacks carried out by the Turkish state against Rojava, Shengal and Maxmur on Tuesday night?

A policy of genocide is being carried out against the peoples of the region. It is a policy based on the massacre of our people. Every time this policy is defeated, the Turkish state tries to keep it alive with new attacks. Everyone knows that Rojava played a big role in ending ISIS. It was also a success against those who support ISIS. The invading Turkish state wanted to respond immediately to this defeat.

What is the connection between these attacks and the 20 January Hesekê attack?

ISIS launched an attack in Hesêkê on the anniversary of the declaration of the Autonomous Administration, 20 January. Thanks to our forces and the struggle of our people, this attack has been foiled. It was clear that the Turkish state was behind this attack plan. The Turkish state wanted to bring ISIS back to the region. When ISIS was defeated, the Turkish state itself stepped in and wanted to avenge ISIS. The same happened in Afrin, Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî. When Turkey’s mercenaries did not get any results, it stepped in itself. It displayed its forces to disrupt the peace and stability in the region. It wanted to revive ISIS with this intervention.

For 12 days, attacks happened everywhere, from Hesekê to Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, Ain Issa and Shehba. How should these attacks be viewed?

It seems that ISIS and the Turkish state are strategic-ideological partners and act together. Simultaneously with the ISIS attack on Hesekê, the Turkish state began to attack Ain issa. It made these attempts to break the circle in Hesekê. At the same time, there were also attacks against Til Temir. Vehicles going from Til Temir to support the conflict in Hesêkê were targeted.

Why is Shengal persistently chosen as the center of the attacks?

Through these attacks Turkey is trying to say that the will of the Shengal people cannot be accepted. They don’t want the people of Shengal to govern themselves. For this reason, many leaders from the Shengal administration were targeted and murdered. Just as ISIS attacked Shengal in 2014, committed war crimes and massacred the people of Shengal, the Turkish state continues its attacks and proves that it is behind the ISIS attack. The Turkish state has not digested this defeat, since Shengal was liberated. It is constantly attacking. The people of Shengal will preserve their existence and the will of Shengal will win.

How do you evaluate the silence of international powers against attacks?

There are also constant attacks on our refugees in Maxmur. A camp under the control of the United Nations is bombed in front of the whole world. This is a war crime. The Turkish state is carrying out this crime today. Refugees are bombarded by warplanes. A stance must be taken against these attacks carried out by the Turkish state. The silence of the international community and the UN is actually a source of encouragement for these attacks. Encouraged by the silence of coalition forces such as the US and Russia, the Turkish state continues to attack.

This silence also prepares the ground and basis for attacks. For the continuation of the genocidal attacks by the Turkish state. This is why we appeal to everyone to prevent this policy carried out by the Turkish state. The Turkish state attacks are throwing the region into chaos by giving strength to the radical groups. The Turkish state poses a threat to the entire region and even the whole world. Countries that remain silent for their own interests against these attacks today will suffer from the Turkish state and radical groups tomorrow. We consider these countries responsible for the attacks.

These attacks are directed against the will of the people. What would you say about this?

If the Turkish state thinks that with these attacks it will weaken the will of our people in Rojava, Shengal, Maxmur, Bashur and Bakur, it is wrong. It will never weaken the will of our people. On the contrary, it will strengthen our will even further. Just as our people resisted yesterday, they will resist even more today and tomorrow. For this reason, the Autonomous Administration, will continue its struggle against these attacks. Our people should also take to the streets against the attacks and engage in this struggle. Our people will fight against this policy that wants to destroy our existence.