North and East Syria condemns Turkish attacks exploiting opposition Holeb (Aleppo) offensive, calls for international action to protect displaced communities

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — The Foreign Relations Commission of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) issued a statement condemning recent attacks by Turkish forces and their Syrian National Army (SNA) proxies.

The statement accused the Turkey and the SNA of distorting facts on the ground to justify their actions and legitimize ongoing aggression. It specifically denounced the targeting of areas where displaced people from Cafrin (Afrin) have sought refuge since 2018, including the northern Holeb countryside and several neighborhoods within the city itself.

DAARNES called on international powers and stakeholders in the Syrian conflict to pressure Turkey and its proxies to halt their attacks. The statement also urged global actors to support DAARNES’s efforts to defend the region and its diverse communities, emphasizing the need for legitimate protection under international frameworks.

Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Commission, expressed concern about the broader implications of these attacks, particularly their impact on Holeb’s social fabric and pluralistic identity. She highlighted how the conflict appears to reflect a proxy war between Turkey-backed factions and Iranian-supported groups.

Ahmed warned that this escalation threatens to deepen divisions in Holeb, which is renowned as one of Syria’s most ethnically and culturally diverse cities. Of particular concern is the targeting of Kurdish displacement camps and nearby areas, which risks triggering further waves of displacement and exacerbating humanitarian crises in the region.

The statement concluded with a call for decisive international intervention to preserve the stability and coexistence of communities in Syria’s fragile landscape.