The Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) issued a statement on the occasion of the thirteenth anniversary of the revolutionary movement in Syria.

The statement said: "The Syrian people ignited a revolution against oppression, tyranny, and the Ba’ath regime that ruled Syria for decades. Syria did not witness any democracy during that period. The Ba’ath regime persisted in its arbitrary actions and repression against its opponents, disregarding global changes and their impact on societies and nations. The Ba’ath regime insisted on its stance despite the Arab Spring waves that swept the region, in which they impacted the aspirations of all people yearning for freedom and the restoration of their dignity."

The statement added that "after thirteen years, the Syrian people still suffer from dire living conditions inside Syria. They face the gravest challenges of migration and displacement abroad. The values of coexistence and the foundations of national unity are now under a severe threat by regional forces intervening directly through proxies. These forces, guided by explicit and declared agendas which hinder Syria’s path toward political and social stability and democratic transition. The crimes committed by the Ba’ath regime, the opposition and its Turkish-backed factions have impacted the Syrian people negatively."

The statement said that "to address this, free Syrians should bear responsibility to make innovative national initiatives, and the international community should support all Syrians to empower them in reclaiming their national destiny. Although the Syrian Revolution faced numerous challenges and changed its path in some regions due to the leadership's failure, it has continued its peaceful approach in other areas such as in Suwayda. Additionally, the movement has developed in certain regions, leading to the establishment of a governance system in the form of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). This historical alternative stands in contrast to the oppressive regime and the terrorism of ISIS, offering hope to all Syrians."

The statement underlined that "the AANES aimed at freedom, dignity, and social justice, advocating for a decentralized democratic Syria. We, as the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the cause of the Syrian people and their just demands. We strongly condemn the crimes committed by the Ba’ath regime, which targeted innocent children, women, and the elderly over the past thirteen years. We commemorate with deep sorrow the innocent children of Daraa, whose violated childhoods serve as a driving force for all Syrians aspiring to freedom, standing up against oppression and tyranny. We strongly condemn the targeting of Syrians' dignity and their right to live safely, as we condemn violations and crimes committed by opposition factions affiliated with the Turkish occupation in the occupied areas. These actions aim to sow discord among the components of the Syrian people."

The statement said that "the most recent crime was perpetrated against the innocent child Ahmad Khaled Mada, who was murdered in Jindires town by a criminal whom Turkey had resettled in Afrin. These crimes are considered as a stark expression of ethnic cleansing policies against its original Kurdish inhabitants, and as part of a deliberate demographic change. We congratulate the free Syrians on this occasion and call upon them to unite their efforts, coordinate, and work towards overcoming the interventions and challenges that face national efforts. In this context, we affirm our commitment to achieving the democratic transition alongside various Syrian democratic national powers and parties. Our goal is to establish a great front that leads the Syrian Revolution and corrects its path in the interest of the Syrian people."