Members of European Parliament call on European Union to denounce Turkish attacks on North and East Syria

BRUSSLES — In the aftermath of Turkish attacks on civilian infrastructure in North and East Syria, including hospitals, schools, and water and electricity facilities, members of European Parliament are rallying for decisive action from the European Union to denounce the assaults, which have resulted in substantial material damage and endangered livelihoods.

Addressing European Union foreign policy officials, several parliamentarians, including François Alfonsi (Femu a Corsica), Andreas Scheider (Social Democratic Party of Austria, SPÖ), and Nikolaj Villumsen (The Unity List – The Red–Greens, EL), issued a letter calling for a firm protest against what they consider unjustified Turkish aggression against North and East Syria. The letter urges the EU to apply pressure on Ankara, demanding an immediate halt to its attacks and violations.

The parliamentarians emphasize that North and the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played a pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), pose no threat to Turkey. Despite Turkey’s insistence, the SDF are essential allies of the US-led International Coalition and are not a “branch” of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Highlighting Turkey’s persistent attacks on the region despite the 2019 ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia, the letter underscores the destabilizing impact on efforts to maintain stability.

The parliamentarians denounced Turkey’s recent bombardment of crucial civilian infrastructure, from power stations and oil fields to homes, warehouses, and factories. The resulting destruction has left hundreds of thousands of people in North and East Syria without electricity, causing severe shortages in water, healthcare, and essential commodities like bread. Schools and universities are paralyzed, and the economic fallout is staggering.

The letter unequivocally stated that targeting vital infrastructure amounts to a war crime. Furthermore, it argues that these assaults pose a threat to Europe, aiming to disrupt regional stability and create conditions for the resurgence of ISIS. The situation complicates the task of the SDF in overseeing thousands of ISIS detainees.