The pro-government Difa al-Watani (National Defense Forces, NDF) militias in Syria started attacking the Internal Security Forces of Rojava at a time when the Turkish army forces launched military operations in the North and East Syria. Clashes took place between the militias and internal security forces after the latter responded to the attacks based on the right to self-defense. Kurdish, Arab and Syriac opinion leaders said that the militias are looking dissension in the region and that they would not allow any strife.

"SYRIA AND TURKEY HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE"

Hekem Xelo, a member of the Council of Opinion Leaders of North and East Syria, stated that the recent escalation in Qamishlo is linked to the Syrian crisis as the government of Damascus continues to rely on its old mentality. Xelo noted that the Syrian government targets democratic nation project introduced by the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, adding, “This is also the target of the Turkish state.”

Xelo pointed out that the recent aggression of the militias and the Syrian government embargo imposed on the Shehba Canton have the same aims. “The Syrian government is trying to force the people of the region to migrate by imposing an embargo. The Turkish state is also changing the demographic structure of the region in Afrin,” he said.

Xelo emphasized that the peoples of North and East Syria are bound by the blood of the martyrs, and no one can ever break this unity. He noted that the local people are aware of the conspiracies against them.

Yusif Ilyas, Syriac, Chaldean and Assyrian spokesperson of the North and East Syrian Opinion Leaders Committee, stated that the escalations in Qamishlo are instigated by Turkish president Erdogan.

"WE WILL CLAIM THE LEGACY OF MARTYRS"

Ilyas said that “As the Kurdish, Arab, Syriac and Assyrian peoples, we have resisted ISIS together. We have built a system based on the labor of the martyrs. The posts circulated on some social media accounts aim at creating dissension among the peoples. Everyone should embrace the legacy of the martyrs.”

Calling upon the Syrian government to stand with the SDF in order for Turkish occupation to come to an end, Ilyas continued, “The SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) is the representative of the peoples of North and East Syria. It is also building the Autonomous Administration model for Syria's territorial integrity. They do not want to sever relations with the Syrian government. Strife should be prevented. Because the SDF and the Autonomous Administration approach all peoples at an equal distance.”

“SDF EMBRACES ALL PEOPLES”

Hisên El-Sade, a member of the Council of Opinion Leaders of North and East Syria, said, “The main purpose of these events is to introduce dissension. The Kurdish and Arab peoples fought together and drove ISIS out of these lands. We will not allow outside forces to attack the Kurdish people. The SDF embraces all peoples. History will write how Kurds and all peoples liberated their land. However, the forces that want to cause strife among the peoples, will not be mentioned anywhere in history.”