The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has declared three days of general mourning in the face of significant casualties caused by Turkey’s ongoing attacks on the region.
The Autonomous Administration said that a Turkish airstrike in the countryside east of al-Malikiyah (Dêrik) on Sunday targeted the Anti-Narcotics Academy and caused the deaths of 29 members of the Anti-Narcotics Forces and injured 28 others, some of them seriously.
In addition to targeting the Anti-Narcotics Academy, the Turkish attack also hit oil installations, civilian areas and agricultural projects in the Al-Derbasiyah (Dirbêsiyê) countryside.
The AANES claimed that the Turkish government, under the banner of a “fascist regime”, was actively destabilising the region and thwarting efforts to combat extremist Islamist groups.
The statement deplores the silence of the international community in the face of Turkish aggression. It accuses the world of indirectly supporting Turkey in its actions and claims that this silence only encourages the Turkish regime to continue its violent campaign.
“We condemn [the crimes] the Turkish enemy is committing before the eyes of the world”, the statement said. It went on to stress the need for clear and transparent international positions on Turkey’s violations against the Kurdish-led autonomous region and its forces.
The people of northern and eastern Syria have played a crucial role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and now face annihilation at the hands of forces once allied with them in this struggle, the Autonomous Administration stressed.
The Administration reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its people and their achievements, while asserting its right to legitimate defence. It also expressed its continued commitment to the principles of the democratic revolution that has driven its society, emphasising the importance of dignity in the face of adversity.
