26/10/2021

As citizens mobilize to demonstrate against the occupation of areas in North East Syria, Turkey issues new threats of further offensive operations

HOLEB, Syria — Residents of villages in the Holeb (Aleppo) countryside held demonstrations against the Turkish presence in the area, as daily Turkish attacks and violations of civilians in northern Syria are on the rise. The developments are met with increasing public condemnation, as shown by the demonstrations that took place in the villages of Tel Rifaat and Kafr Naya in the northern Aleppo countryside days ago. The residents state that the Turkish violations amount to war crimes as the actions of its troops and mercenaries act violently against unarmed civilians and loot and destroy their property, homes and land.

This comes while reports revealed that the Turkish forces and its proxies the Syrian National Army (SNA) intend to launch a new offensive operation in northern Syria, to be carried out under fabricated pretexts. Tensions are rising in the area as recently a Turkish drone bombed an area adjacent to the village of Tel Rifaat, causing only material damage, while other reports said that Syrian regime forces shot down a Turkish drone over Tel Rifaat.

However, despite all these demonstrations, the Turkish government has declared its continuation of its expansionist plans in northern Syria. The justification is based on the pretext of fighting allegedly the PKK’s presence in the areas in question, the Turkiye Gazetesi newspaper revealed. According to the Turkish media outlet, Turkey is preparing more than 35,000 troops to take part in a military operation on the fronts of Tel Rifaat, Manbij, Ayn Issa, and Tel Tamr.

The newspaper added that the operation will be carried out together with the leaders of the so-called “Syrian National Army”.  The plans for the new offensive and occupation comes amid an international silence over Turkey’s malicious and destructive plans for the “stability of the region” which they want to achieve by changing the demographics on its borders.