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A coalition of six civil society groups in the US have released a joint statement in relation to Turkey’s recent threat to invade deeper into northeast Syria, excerpts of which are given below:
“Considering the Turkish government’s renewed threats of unprovoked military action against northeast Syria, we condemn Turkey’s illegal and dangerous posturing as a coalition of concerned Americans. We pledge to pursue sanctions against Turkey should it undertake this unprovoked cross-border attack.”
“Contrary to Turkish claims, northeast Syria poses no security threat to Turkey.”
“The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) consistently serve to prevent the reconstitution of ISIS [Islamic State]. Turkey’s further military action into northeast Syria will embolden ISIS and other jihadist groups, as observed following each successive Turkish invasion since 2016. It has been confirmed by multiple sources that, in addition to conventional Turkish forces, Turkey’s military campaigns in northeast Syria have leveraged ISIS fighters and jihadist militias.”
‘Erdoğan’s goal: Invade, occupy, and Turkify land outside the Turkish border’
The chair of the American Friends of Kurdistan, Diliman Abdulkader, said:
“Turkey must be held accountable for its continued threats against the Kurds and other minorities in the region. Erdoğan’s goal is to invade, occupy, and Turkify land outside the Turkish border. The Biden administration and Congress have an opportunity to stop Erdoğan before he moves forward on yet another unjustified invasion. The Erdoğan regime has become a significant security concern for the people of northeast Syria, who is simply trying to recover from the civil war.”
Richard Ghazal, executive director of In Defence of Christians, said:
“Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to destroy the budding democracy in northeast Syria and eradicate the final remaining Aramaic-speaking Christian towns through daily bombing campaigns. This is unconscionable. Erdoğan’s game is not merely reckless; it’s a methodical and deliberate test of US and NATO resolve.”
Call for ban on arms sales and strong sanctions
Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), said:
“Ankara must be held accountable for its rising tide of regional aggression, most recently in the form of Erdoğan’s threat to launch cross-border attacks against America’s battle-tested Arab, Kurdish, Syriac-Assyrian, and other allies. That needs to start with an immediate ban on arms sales and should also include strong sanctions against Erdoğan and his inner circle.”
Hindu American Foundation managing director Samir Kalra said:
“Turkey’s most recent actions in northeast Syria further demonstrate Erdoğan’s pattern of aggression and efforts to destabilise regions around the world, including South Asia, where he supports terrorists in Indian Kashmir and has an increasingly dangerous relationship with the Pakistani military, contrary to US interests.”
‘Time for US and EU to prove that commitments are not subject to double standards’
Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, said:
“The West finally stood up to revisionist powers after Russia’s invasion to Ukraine. Turkey’s planned invasion of northern Syria threatens the very principles being fought for in Ukraine. It is time for the US and the EU to prove that commitments to territorial sovereignty, human rights and the rule of law are not subject to double standards.”
Cliff Smith, the Middle East Forum’s Washington Project director, said:
“For too long, the US government have turned a blind eye, and at times even enabled, Turkish aggression against the Kurds in Turkey and Syria and Iraq. Kurdish forces have been a key partner in our fight against ISIS and deserve American support. The US government should let Erdoğan know there will be a price to pay for his aggression.”
