Ten years of Syriac Military Council. MFS spokesman Matay Hanna says fight against terrorism and struggle for self-determination and full rights for Syriacs and all peoples of Syria will continue

KHABUR, North and East Syria ꟷ The Syriac Military Council is a self-defense force established on January 8, 2013, in Syria to defend Syriacs (Arameans-Chaldeans-Assyrians) in the escalating Syrian civil war. The Syriac Military Council (Mawtbo Fulhoyo Suryoyo, MFS) grew to become a co-founder of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a defender of the rights of the peoples of North and East Syria, and a solid partner on the ground for the US-led International Coalition against the Islamic State terror organization.

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its founding, Matay Hanna, the spokesman of the MFS, talked to Suroyo TV and explained that the foundation of the MFS aimed to take on the protection of the Syriac people, villages, and places of worship by the Syriacs themselves. It came after the squeezed central government withdrew its forces and left the Gozarto (Jazira) Region to the fate of terrorists and other religious and racist fanatics.

“Our activist Syriac youth realized that no one would come to our defense and that we ourselves would have to stand up and arm ourselves for our people’s defense. We showed the world that, in cooperation with the other peoples of the region, we could take a stand and defend our rights and places. We have shown the world that we are a living people and have the right to exist on our ancestral lands. The main goal is to become a recognized force within Syria and show our Syriac people that it has a will and force of its own that it can rely on for its self-defense and to secure full legal rights in the Gozarto Region and in the country,” said Hanna.

“We at MFS saw the founding and cooperation within the SDF as an important pillar for coexistence in our region. Syriacs, Arabs, Kurds and other peoples of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East, all have the same goals to defend our region and use our powers and rights to express the Autonomous Administration’s ideology of peaceful coexistence, federalism, the full recognition of civil rights, and the self-determination and self-government of peoples.” He added that, “Syriacs, along with the other peoples, have co-founded the SDF, and we form an essential part of its functions, departments, and military councils. This comes from our belief in the brotherhood of peoples and defeating terrorism together.” As a full part of the SDF, the MFS has participated in anti-terrorism operations throughout all the areas of the Administration, including areas in Syria where no Syriacs live.

To the opposition the Syriacs and the MFS have received from regional powers and their proxies operating in the region, Matay Hanna replied that “many forces have worked to foment internal and external discord and create divisions within our people. Many regional powers also do not want the Syriacs, Arabs, Kurds and other peoples of the region to cooperate and join forces in demanding self-determination and self-rule.” For example, Turkey has given Islamic State terrorists a different look by incorporating them into the Syrian National Army (SNA). None of those affiliated with the SNA demand democracy and equal rights, and none of the many peoples of our region are really represented within the SNA ranks.

Matay Hanna concluded; “We as activist and proud Syriac youth have shown our people to shed the fear of centuries of repression and political deprivation and fight for our people’s rights. MFS has shown strength and fostered self-confidence within our people, here in the homeland but also in the diaspora.” He reiterated the continuation of the military struggle and the goals to obtain full recognition and protect the cause of the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) people. The MFS spokesman congratulated the Syriac people all over the world and the members of the MFS on the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Syriac Military Council, pledging to only move forward and to achieve all goals and demands of the Syriac people.

Exactly 10 years ago, #Syriac Military Council, MFS have been founded in Gozarto, NE Syria for the protection and safeguard of Syriac people and region. As a founding member of SDF and partner of @coalition, MFS continue its mission with professionalism and utmost dedication. pic.twitter.com/3DTYEL2BEg

— SyriacMilitaryMFS (@SyriacMFS) January 8, 2023