SDF confirmed their readiness to repel any attack by the Turkish state, accusing it with non-complying with the 2019 agreement. SDF warned that that the Turkish occupation army that it would confront all Syrians that oppose invasion.
The General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held a press conference at its headquarters in the city of Heseke regarding the continuous Turkish threats against the regions of north and east Syria, and the preparations of the Syrian Democratic Forces to confront the attacks.
SDF Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Abdi spoke at the press conference, stating the following:
TURKEY BREACHED THE 2019 AGREEMENT
Abdi confirmed that the Turkish threats against the region began on May 23 and never stopped. “Turkey and its mercenaries are preparing, concentrating forces in Til Rifat and Manbij, and they will attack at any time they have the opportunity. They are making their final preparations,” he noted.
Abdi refuted Turkey’s argument that the operation was launched due to our forces' violation of the 17 and 22 October 2019 agreements. “Yet, in fact, it is the Turkish state that breaches the agreements and commits violations. The crimes committed by Turkish-backed groups and the Turkish army’s airstrikes on civilians in North-East Syria, are documented by our centres.”
1360 ATTACKS IN A MONTH
The SDF commander informed that the Turkish army and allied mercenaries carried out 1,360 attacks against North-East Syrian cities within the past one month. These included 300 artillery attacks, 6 ground attack attempts, 7 UCAV attacks that claimed the lives of 6 civilians, including two children, and left nine people injured. In addition to these, 22 attacks with killer drones took place.
OCCUPIED AREAS A HOTBED FOR ISIS
Most importantly, the occupied areas have become a hotbed for ISIS mercenaries, said Abdi, recalling the killings of many ISIS leaders in these regions, including of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This shows who violates the agreement, he said, confirming the commitment of his forces to the terms of the 2019 agreement, including the SDF’s retreat from the Syrian border with Turkey by a distance of 30 km and opening the way for the Syrian government forces to station themselves in the border areas.
“The claim that our forces do not abide the ceasefire agreement aims to divide Syria and hinder a solution. Great deal of work has been conducted to obviate these attacks. We called on everyone to prevent these attacks. It is not a time like 2018-2019. Despite unofficially, the Turkish state are against these attacks.”
73 ISIS MEMBERS KILLED IN MAY, 30 IN JUNE
Concerning the fight against ISIS, Abdi stated that the number of ISIS members arrested in security operations fell by half during June compared to May. 73 ISIS elements were arrested in May and 30 in June.
INTERNATIONAL POSITION INSUFFICIENT TO DETER ATTACKS
“The claim that our forces do not abide the ceasefire agreement aims to divide Syria and hinder a solution. Great deal of work has been conducted to obviate these attacks. We called on everyone to prevent these attacks. It is not a time like 2018-2019. Despite unofficially, the Turkish state are against these attacks,” the SDF commander stated.
Referring to the international positions regarding the Turkish threats, Abdi noted that “the International Coalition and the U.S. have a stance, but the continuation of these threats indicates the inadequacy of these positions to deter threats and stop the escalation."
Abdi also welcomed Russia's "significant de-escalation efforts", stressing that the Syrian army has reinforced its forces on the borders of the threatened areas in Kobane and Tal Rifat, we are still working on Manbij.
IT WOULD BE THE BATTLE OF THE WHOLE OF SYRIA
Abdi remarked that a potential war would be the battle of the whole of Syria, in which case all the opponents of invasion, including Damascus government forces, would put up resistance.
The SDF commander stressed that they were focused on stopping Turkish attacks which would also affect the fight against ISIS. He warned that, in the case of such attacks, they would not be able to maintain the fight against ISIS, which is also preparing for a major attack, according to information they had.
“Yet, if the Turkish state insists on attacking, we will respond with strong initiatives. During the past three years, our forces have strengthened our defenses and their military readiness. We have gained experience from Afrin, Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî and our military force is stronger today. If the Turkish state happens to attack, it will be us but not them to determine the result. This would be not the fight of the Kurds and the SDF, but the fight of the whole of Syria. It would be the fight of all those who oppose the invasion of Syrian land,” Abdi underlined.
WE MUST RESIST ALL TOGETHER
The commander continued: “We will not retreat. The war in North Syria will be a general one and it will not be the Turkish army and mercenaries to determine its fate. They will confront all Syrians, including the Damascus government forces.”
“Our people should stand by their forces. We must resist all together. We will fight together with our people to the very end and bring this war to an end.”
Abdi called on all the people of northern and eastern Syria to "support the resistance and stand by their children." He also called on all political parties to remove political and intellectual contradictions and assume their national responsibilities.
