RİHA - Stating that Turkey and the SNA continue to attack the Tishreen Dam, "Despite all the attacks of Turkey, the people do not step back. International conventions and the law of war are ignored in the region," says Journalist Doğan Cihan.
Since 27 November, Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA), which is guided by Turkey, have been continuing their attacks against the cities of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Turkey and the SNA, which intensified its attacks in and around the Tishreen Dam, are also directly targeting civilians.
Journalist Doğan Cihan, who closely follows the developments in the region, evaluated the attacks on North and East Syria led by Turkey.
Cihan drew attention to the attacks launched by Hayat Tahrir El-Sham (HTS) on 26 November 2024 and the new situation in Syria. Emphasizing that Turkey's attacks on North and East Syria did not start with this process. Cihan said, "The events in Syria since 27 November have brought a process towards the collapse of the Baath regime. However, Turkey's attacks on Rojava are not limited to this process. Turkey's attacks are a continuation of its more than 100 years policy to eliminate the Kurdish existence. Since its foundation, the Turkish state has targeted the will, identity and existence of the Kurdish people. Since the beginning of the Rojava Revolution on 19 July 2012, Kurds have declared self-governments in Kobani, Afrin, Qamishlo, Heseke and other cities and established a structure on the basis of defending their lands and the will of peoples to live together. Turkey, on the other hand, has targeted the self-defence of the Kurds and the democratic autonomous sturcture created with these alliances."
'AIM IS TO DEHUMANISE THE REGION'
Stating that Turkey wants to destroy the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, which was formed by the Kurdish people as well as the Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, Turkmen and other peoples in the region on the basis of a common life, Cihan said that the attacks targeted not only military targets but also civilian living spaces. Cihan said, "Turkey has changed the demographic structure in the regions it occupied suc as Gire Spi, Serakaniye and Afrin, forcibly displaced the Kurdish and Arab population and settled the groups udner its control in the region. In the regions it could not occupy, it is trying to destroy living spaces with air and ground attacks. Turkey is targeting points that meet the basic needs of the people, such as electricity and water stations, bakeries, wheat warehouses, factories and agricultural lands. The aim is to dehumanise the region and facilitate the occupation by forcing the people to migrate."
Noting that the attacks launched by Turkey and groups affiliated to the SNA on 8 December 2024 against the Tishreen Dam and Qaraqozak Bridge areas southeast of Manbij continue, Cihan said that the resistance of the regional forces against the attacks continues. Stating that the Manbij Military Council showed resistance against the attacks on strategic points, Cihan said, "Tishreen Dam is the second largest dam in Syria and meets 70 percent of the country's electricity needs. It is a very important point for irrigation of agricultural lands and drinking water in the region. The Qaraqozak Bridge is located on the M4 trade route and means encircling Kobanê from the south. By controlling these regions, Turkey wants to cut the economic and logistical resources of the Autonomous Administration and strengthen its presence in the region. These attacks also threaten the minority peoples in the region."
'INTERNATIONAL SILENCE'
Pointing out that the peoples of the Autonomous Administration are in resistance against Turkey's attacks, Cihan noted that the Kurd, Arab, Assyrian and Armenian peoples continue the watch action they started at the Tishreen Dam. Cihan said, "The people are in the action started with the slogan 'We protect our water, land and dam'. Despite all the attacks of Turkey, the people are not stepping back. The people are resisting for the attacks to stop and peace to return to the region. On the other hand, civilians are being targeted. International conventions and the law of war are being disregarded in the region. Turkey is protected by international powers because it is a NATO member. It is forgotten that the Kurds fought a great struggle for humanity by defeating ISIS. Turkey has massacred thousands of people in Rojava, but so far there has been no strong objection from human rights organizations."
MA / Delal Akyüz