Turkey’s offensive in northeast Syria is an attempt to block Kurdish gains and displace civilians, Rohilat Afrin, a senior commander with the Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), said in an interview with Mezopotamya News’ Fırat Can Arslan on Tuesday. The latest round of Turkish airstrikes, launched shortly after an explosion at Ankara’s Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) on 24 October, has escalated in recent days, targeting urban centres, civilian infrastructure, power stations and grain supplies in regions controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), known as Rojava.
“Turkey is afraid of the Kurds gaining status,” stated Afrin, adding, “Turkey’s greatest fear is that the Kurds gain the position they deserve.”
Turkey targets Kurdish-led areas to diminish Kurdish advancements, Afrin asserted, while the Turkish government’s war policy also serves to deflect public attention from deep-rooted crises in domestic and international arenas. Furthermore, Turkey has manipulated recent events, such as the Ankara bombing, as a pretext for renewed attacks, she explained, stressing: “Everyone knows the incident had no connection to Rojava.”
In her assessment Afrin criticised what she termed Turkey’s “double standards”, highlighting Ankara’s condemnation of violence in Gaza while simultaneously launching attacks in Syria. Afrin alleged that Turkey aims to “intimidate” the Kurdish people and erode their self-rule by employing “special warfare tactics” designed to displace civilians and destabilise Kurdish-held regions.
Calling for international attention, Afrin appealed for action against alleged war crimes, noting how “the silence of international bodies only encourages Turkey”. She urged coalition allies to take a stronger stance and reiterated the Kurdish forces’ commitment to protecting their “land and the gains of the revolution”.
“We will defend ourselves against the ongoing and future attacks,” the commander said, “strengthening our defence forces alongside our people”.
Below is a translation of the full interview:
Mezopotamya News: Turkey frequently targets cities in North and East Syria, citing various incidents as justification. Despite statements from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), what is the reason behind these attacks?
Rohilat Afrin: Turkey is experiencing a period of crisis and chaos, facing deep crises both domestically and internationally. By waging war on multiple fronts, it attempts to annihilate the Kurds. It consistently attacks the achievements in the region. Turkey has reached a point where it can no longer bear its current burdens. It faces collapse both politically and economically. Therefore, it continues its war against the Kurds in an attempt to avoid this collapse. However, the war with the Kurds will not save Turkey. Both in politics and in its attacks, the Turkish state is moving towards ruin.
From the Kurdish perspective, they stand at an important position in the new world order and the Middle East: this is Turkey’s main fear. The state, with a mindset rooted in war, sees itself approaching ruin on the one hand, while on the other, it recognises that the Kurds’ status is rising. Turkey fears this – it fears the Kurds gaining status. This is why it seeks to eliminate the Kurds. Turkey’s greatest fear is that the Kurds gain the position they deserve. The Kurds preserve their achievements through their own strength and the sacrifices they have made.
The Kurdish struggle is blocking Turkey’s neo-Ottoman ambitions. The attack in Ankara is being used as an excuse to launch attacks here. However, everyone knows that the reason for the attacks is not the Ankara incident, but rather the political, military, and social achievements here. Everyone is aware that there was no attack on Ankara from Rojava.
They create excuses to destroy these achievements. This situation needs to be evaluated on the correct basis. Since the occupation of Afrin and Girê Spî, the attacks have not stopped. Their mentality is one of occupation. If they cannot occupy lands, they aim to create a blockade through attacks. There are limitless and unethical attacks, especially on children and civilians. Even war has its moral rules, but Turkey’s attacks lack this.
In the areas currently under attack, our people are being deprived of all achievements. In ongoing attacks, basic needs such as wheat, water, and power stations have been targeted. There is an intention to prevent our people from finding peace in their own lands. There is no civilian area left untouched in these attacks. This is an attempt to forcibly displace our people entirely.
On one hand, the Turkish government criticises Israel’s attacks on Gaza, while on the other hand, it is carrying out similar attacks in North and East Syria. You mentioned that these attacks aim to displace the population. How do you interpret this double standard?
This is essentially a tactic of special warfare. The attacks aim to force our people into displacement. This process has caused both material and moral damage. Turkey criticises the killing of children in Gaza and Palestine every day. However, in the last three days of attacks, our civilian population in North and East Syria, especially in Tel Rifaat, has been targeted. People working in our institutions have been targeted. They want to intimidate the people and prevent them from breathing freely.
In this sense, as the defence forces, we have responded to these attacks in every way possible and will continue to do so. We are confident in ourselves and our people. We will protect our achievements. Turkey, which employs tactics of special warfare, turns all existing realities upside down. It disguises its methods of special warfare. With these attacks, their masks have fallen once again. The mask of those waging special warfare has fallen again.
What is the coalition’s stance on these attacks?
The Turkish state commits war crimes in Rojava every day. International institutions must speak out against these attacks by Turkey. Silence on this matter only encourages Turkey. The time has come for Turkey to face trial in an international court for its war crimes in Kurdistan. It must now face justice. Even if we look only at North and East Syria, demographic changes are occurring in all the occupied areas. Every day, theft, arrests, and torture occur. In the areas under its occupation, Turkey pursues policies of massacres, annihilation, and the erasure of identity and culture.
We have worked with the coalition forces for years. This partnership should continue. But the current silence opens the door for Turkey to continue its attacks. This silence also opens the door for various other assaults. Nothing can justify the attacks on North and East Syria. We consider the coalition’s statement on “self-defence” to be an unfortunate remark. Self-defence against what? The incident [at TUSAŞ*] has no connection to North and East Syria.
The Third World War is not confined to our region; it has been ongoing globally for years. It will continue. This war will not end. Therefore, we will defend ourselves against the ongoing and future attacks, and we will intensify our struggle. By strengthening our defence forces, we will protect our lands and the gains of the revolution with our people. For the past 8 to 9 years, with the occupation of Afrin, Gri Spî, and Serêkaniyê, our people have been under attack.
The Turkish state’s attacks are fundamentally against the gains of the revolution. It aims to destroy the philosophy, culture, and will of the revolution. Naturally, as defence forces, we will lead correctly and protect our achievements and our land. If we had not prepared until today, or if there was no people’s defence, our achievements would have ended quickly. No attack will frighten us. No attack will drive us from our lands. From now on, we will take precautions. We will respond in due time. Our preparations will continue in all aspects.
While attacks on North and East Syria continue, discussions of a ‘new [peace] process’ are taking place in Turkey. When you consider these discussions alongside the attacks, what do you think?
We also learn about the statements and discussions from the media. It is too early to interpret or criticise them. For years, the Kurds have fought for freedom and autonomy. This struggle has been waged with great sacrifices and at a high cost. At its core, the ideas and philosophy of Leader Apo** have sustained and defended this struggle from the beginning. Leader Apo led the revolution with new paradigms and ideas. In this regard, neither our people nor those who seek democracy and freedom would shy away from this.
The initiation of such a process and its conduct on the path of democracy and peace would provide a solution for everyone. If peace and democracy were to be conducted within the framework of law, peace steps would indeed be valuable for all people. When a step is taken towards peace, peace can be established throughout the region, whether it is the Turkish state facing crisis and deadlock, Iran, Iraq, or Syria.
This will yield better results. Such steps would encourage countries worldwide to have the courage to address [their own] issues.
This is also what will save Syria. Fundamental democratic laws will save Syria. A democratic Syria can be formed with this step.
The attacks against our people are severe. However, we persist, and maintain our determination; we can defend our people and achievements with our defence forces in our region and throughout Kurdistan, regardless of the attacks. We will continue to defend at any cost. Neither special warfare nor attacks will intimidate us. We have paid a heavy price in North and East Syria. With these sacrifices, our people stand strong today.
These sacrifices have instilled fear in the Turkish state. We hope that our sacrifices and achievements will serve as the fundamental solution and means for peace.
*The People’s Defence Forces (HPG), the command centre of a military wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), claimed responsibility for the 24 October explosion and armed attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) in Ankara.
**Apo is an affectionate name for Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
