As the Turkish state continues to escalate its attacks against North-East Syria since 5 October, violent bombardments on civilian infrastructure, hospitals, petrol stations, factories, shops and houses have claimed the lives of 15 people, among them 8 civilians.

Ruksen Mihemed, Spokesperson of the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ), spoke to ANF about Turkey’s increasingly ongoing attacks, which she defined as “an open violation of international law”.

Mihemed stated: “Attacks on North-East Syria have been going on unabated since Thursday amidst intense activity by over 30 reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets.  Bombardments are directly targeting civilian settlements and infrastructure, power stations, water and oil stations, and hospitals. Vital supply facilities used by the population as well as institutions and establishments have been bombed. With these attacks, a crime against humanity is being committed. The current aggression by the Turkish state is a war against international law. Laws are being violated. It is a crime to violate the borders of a country, to launch terror attacks, to target civilians and civilian infrastructure. Violent attacks are being carried out in North-East Syria. The aggression launched by the Turkish state by using the Ankara attack as a pretext is an unrealistic justification. Turkey’s attacks are terror attacks. The Turkish state has a history marked by massacres and genocides. It is a continuation of the bloody Ottoman history. A repetition of the Gêliyê Zilan, Armenian, Circassian and Arab massacres is directed against North-East Syria today. This is a genocidal aggression based on a large-scale concept. The fascist AKP-MHP alliance has never stopped its attacks against the Kurdish people because their main goal is to complete the Kurdish genocide and to eradicate the Kurdish people. They are currently carrying out an aggression to massacre the peoples living in North-East Syria. The ongoing Turkish attacks do not only amount to a genocide, but also aim to cover up the political, economic and social crisis in Turkey.”

The Turkish state is desperate and weak

Remarking that the Turkish state intends to continue its dictatorship by means of these attacks, Ruksen Mihemed continued: “The Turkish state also wants to give the message that it remains strong and standing. Yet, the situation it currently finds itself in shows its desperateness and weakness. It wants to mislead the people of Turkey. These attacks do not only target the civilian infrastructure and energy resources, but also the social structure, the democratic model implemented in the region, and the co-existence, common will and fraternity and the Autonomous Administration of peoples. The Turkish state pursues the path of war, massacre and genocide rather than democracy. Therefore, it attacks those who stand for democracy, equality, justice, peace and fraternity.”

International powers are becoming a party to war crimes

Pointing to the silence of international powers in the face of the attacks against the peoples of North-East Syria, Ruksen Mihemed stated that: “The Turkish state’s attacks, which constitute war crimes, are taking place in front of the very eyes of the world. The United Nations, international powers and the institutions advocating human rights are remaining silent and shutting their eyes, which means being a party to war crimes. International powers should clarify their position and stand. The forces of the International Coalition and Russia are also stationed in the region. Despite witnessing war crimes on the ground, they have remained quite timid. It is understood that the airspace was opened to the Turkish state and attacks against civilians have been approved. Opening the airspace to the Turkish state and turning a blind eye to attacks mean being a party to this aggression. The International Coalition and Russia should take a tough line. The people of the region have been fighting ISIS terror for years and tens of thousands have been martyred in this struggle. A struggle for all humanity was fought in North-East Syria, where moral values of humanity were protected and defended. It was the population of this very region that stood up for laws, but not those claiming to do so. That’s why it is the peoples of North-East Syria that must be defended and protected.”

Resistance will be enhanced

Ruksen Mihemed pointed out that the YPJ will fulfill its duties and responsibilities and confront the attacks shoulder to shoulder with the people on the basis of the Revolutionary People’s War. “The safety of our people and the stability of our region is our main duty and responsibility. We will not remain without a stand against these attacks. We will take a firm stand against the intended massacre of our people and enhance the resistance, which is weaved with the philosophy of a free life, equality and democracy under the motto “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom). Our strength, will, self-confidence and assertion are derived from our philosophy of life. No power or no attack can make us take a step back, nor can it break our will and strength, because our strength takes its source from the resistance and will of the people. We will shoulder the legacy of our martyred comrades. Our will, determination and struggle will make the enemy regret what it has been doing. The severity of the attacks doesn't matter. The attacks will definitely be responded to.”

Popular resistance should be expanded to all areas

The YPJ Spokesperson concluded: “By taking to the streets on the first day of the attacks, our people have once again proven their loyalty to this cause, to these lands and to their martyrs. The resistance and struggle of the peoples of North-East Syria should be expanded to all areas. Women and youth should stand up for the revolution of peoples. Democratic circles and the friends of peoples should be more active and embrace the revolution stronger. We should stand up for the Rejova Revolution all together.”