The attacks of the Syrian National Army (SMO) formed by Turkey by gathering ISIS and El Kaide elements continues. Despite the agreements Turkey made with USA and Russia, Turkey is trying to widen their territory.

 

Following the strong reactions of all around the world, USA President Donald Trump enabled a 5 day ceasefire to allow themselves and AKP government some space. According to the agreement: 

 

* Turkey will pause the 'Peace Spring Operation' for 120 hours to allow YPG to withdraw

 

* The safe zone will be controlled by Turkey, TSK will ensure the resilience and security of all inhabitants in the region.

 

*  Heavy weapons will be collected from YPG and all combat positions will be rendered unusable with YPG fortifications.

 

*  Both countries reiterate their commitment to the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria and UN-led political process, which aims at ending the Syrian conflict in accordance with UNSCR 2254.

 

Turkey continued its attacks despite the agreement. Even though there is an article ensuring the safety of the people living in the residential districts and no demographic change will be made, approximately 100 thousand people were displaced according to the UN data. Turkey's paramilitary power partner SMO ransacked the houses and businesses one by one in Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê. A small number of civilians who abstained in the area were kidnapped and their families were asked for ransom.

 

Democratic Syrian Forces kept being attacked even they withdrew from the area. SDF, which made Russia a guarantor country in the negotiations with the regime, allowed the regime to be deployed along the border line. However, when Turkey invaded the Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê line were left to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) with the decision of Russia. The second cease-fire agreement between the delegations chaired by Putin and AKP leader Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on October 22 did not stop the attacks of the TSK.

 

According to the Sochi Agreement: 

 

*  The two sides reiterate their commitment to the preservation of the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria and the protection of national security of Turkey.

 

* In this framework, the established status quo in the current Operation Peace Spring area covering Tel Abyad and [Ras al-Ain] with a depth of 32km (20 miles) will be preserved.

 

*  Starting 12.00 noon of October 23, 2019, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border, outside the area of Operation Peace Spring, to facilitate the removal of YPG elements and their weapons to the depth of 30km (19 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border, which should be finalized in 150 hours. At that moment, joint Russian-Turkish patrols will start in the west and the east of the area of Operation Peace Spring with a depth of 10km (six miles), except Qamishli city.

 

* All YPG elements and their weapons will be removed from Manbij and Tal Rifat.

 

Despite this agreement, the attacks and the forced demographic change did not stop.

 

 

The QSD forces, which retreated to the south of the 32 km border, were attacked from the Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê countryside to Til Temir, despite both agreements. In the south of Girê Spî, SMO forces attacked the M4 international road, which should be under regime control. While the regime forces remained unresponsive to the attacks, the resistance of the QSD continues in the region. Til Temir, which fell to the southeast of Serêkaniyê, also known as Assyrian and Armenian city, was subjected to SMO attacks in the city and countryside. Many civilians were affected in the ongoing attacks. 

 

USA and Russia who made the ceasefire possible, silently watched the TSK and SMO attacks and remained unresponsive. Russia and Turkey started joint patrols 10 km into the Syria border accordingly with the agreement.Finally, yesterday the people reacting to the Turkish army and armoured vehicles were raked by the Turkish soldiers and many civillians were injured as a result of this. So far, the local people reacted to all 5 patrols deeming Turkey to be invaders. In the 3rd patrol between Qamişlo and Dêrik, TSK elements crushed one civilians who reacted and killed 10 people.

 

MA/ Nazım Daştan