The Turkish state and affiliated mercenaries continue their attacks against Shehba and the Afrin region, which they occupied in January 2018. These attacks, which have been going on for more than six years, directly target the civilians living in the region. In an attack in September, 2 citizens were killed and 6 others were wounded.

Necî Selemê, Deputy Co-Chair of Afrin-Shehba Canton Autonomous Administration spoke to ANHA about the increasingly ongoing attacks against the region.

Necî Selemê stated that the Turkish state and its mercenaries have directly targeted civilians since the invasion of Afrin and the attacks continue uninterruptedly. Selemê emphasised that the attacks are not only limited to Shehba, but also target all of Northern and Eastern Syria.

Necî Selemê remarked that it is their right to resist against the attacks of the Turkish state and said, “All the circles living in this canton are defending the land together and taking a determined stance in the line of struggle. The will of our people cannot be broken by these attacks. The Turkish state cannot disrupt the existing security and stability in the region. The attacks are intended to create fear among the peoples, but the people’s determination to return to Afrin has defeated this fear.”

Necî Selemê stated that Shehba has become a refugee area and international powers are silent about the attacks. “Regional powers such as Russia, Iran and Syria should not remain silent in the face of these attacks. We do not accept and reject this silence,” he said.

Drawing attention to the people’s determination to struggle, Necî Selemê said: “States and other powers should give up their attempts to create chaos within the Democratic Autonomous Administration and its components. Our will cannot be broken by special war methods. With the unity of our people and our fighters, we will cleanse the Syrian lands from the invaders.”