Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesperson Kino Gabriel has said that Turkey and Turkish-backed groups aimed to take over new areas with their attacks on Ain Issa. Gabriel denied the claim that the city would be handed over to the Syrian regime.

Attacks launched by Turkey and the Turkish-baked Syrian National Army (SNA) against Ain Issa have been ongoing since early December. Though an agreement was reached between the SDF, Russia and the Syrian regime, the attacks have not stopped.

According to the ANHA’s report, spokesperson Gabriel said that Turkey’s attacks were part of its policy in the region and the wider Middle East. However, Gabriel said the SDF forces thwarted Turkey’s plans.

Recalling the agreement, including the decision to set three common observation points in Ain Issa, signed on 9 October, the spokesperson said, “Russia is a guarantor country for the ceasefire, but it does not fulfil its responsibility. Russia does not react against Turkey for its own interests. This is not new to us. We observed that during the war as well. For that reason, we should not have different expectations”.

Noting that the important thing was to block Turkey from violating the bounds of the agreement, Gabriel said, “Certainly, I believe it is possible to apply pressure on Turkey to make it stop its attacks and violations of rights and act within the scope of the ceasefire agreement. Our forces kept to the agreement and initiated a ceasefire. We will resist in accordance with legitimate defence in case of an attack and react to attacks targeting the region. The other forces that signed the agreement should not remain silent against those attacks”.

SDF spokesperson Gabriel also said that the claim that Ain Issa would be handed on to the Damascus government was “unrealistic”.

What happened?

The assaults began on 18 December when Turkish-backed armed groups attacked the village of Mişêrifê in northeastern Syria. According to local information, the violent clashes that started then are still ongoing.

Attacks against North East Syria have continued during the night and into the early morning on 20 December. The Turkish state and its mercenaries bombed neighbourhoods located in the northern regions of Ain Issa. In addition, the village of Soxanekê in the Şêrawa district of Afrin (Efrin), the village of Şiwarqa in the Şera district and Şiwarqa Castle were attacked in the same time period.