The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has released a statement on the Turkish attack that targeted internal security forces in Kobane last night. The Autonomous Administration denounced that the Turkish state does not respect international law and called on the US, Russia and UN Security Council toulfil their responsibilities.

The statement reads as follows:

“At a time when the world is still suffering from the crisis of COVID-19 and the endeavors to contain the devastating results of this disease, the regions of northern and eastern Syria, which suffer from the lack of necessary attention by the World Health Organization, are engaged in a mighty battle to protect the health and lives of nearly five million people through the necessary preventive measures. The Turkish state continues to prevent focus on these efforts and targets our regions in light of the cessation of hostilities by the whole world.

In the morning of April 28, 2020, the Turkish occupation state targeted the Kobane Canton. The aggression followed repeated attacks on the regions of Shehba where intense bombing resulted in severe damage and targeted hundreds of people from Afrin who had been displaced and moved to Shehba. These people were not spared from the Turkish bombing even after their migration from Afrin.

These attacks are only definitive indications of lack of interest and responsibility on the part of Turkey with regard to the necessity of cooperation to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and international calls for the cessation of hostilities in light of the pandemic. The attacks reveal the Turkish occupation state’s lack of commitment and respect to international agreements in Syrian territories; first and foremost in the occupied areas of Afrin, Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Gire Spi (Tal Abyad).

At a time of a battle against coronavirus pandemic, we in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria call upon the international community with all its institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to show their responsibilities in the face of the Turkish state’s attacks. The SDF remain committed to the international appeal for a ceasefire. The Turkish state must also be pressured to adhere to this appeal.

Russia and America have direct agreements with Turkey regarding its presence and mechanisms in northern and eastern Syria. Therefore, we ask these countries to uphold their responsibilities and work in order for Turkey to abide by those agreements in consideration of the fact that all parties to these agreements are responsible for the Turkish escalation in our regions.

These abuses create chaos and expose the fact that Turkey does not realize the dangers of this virus, but rather exploits all circumstances, including humanitarian cases, to implement its aggressive plans, so we call on all of the mentioned parties to act and to stop these attacks immediately.”