Elham Ahmed:  escalation in Deir Hafer, Aleppo heralds a civil war

With the participation of the co-chair of the Department of External Relations in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Elham Ahmed, and in the presence of a number of journalists and media outlets, the Kurdish Center for Studies and the Target Media and Training Organization organized a press conference via the “ZOOM” application about the current developments in Syria.

The conference focused on political and field developments, especially the attacks that targeted the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid in the city of Aleppo, in addition to Deir Hafer in Tabqa canton and the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam south of Kobani, following the escalation of the mercenaries of the interim government and the Turkish occupation.

During the conference, Elham Ahmed confirmed that several parties, including foreign groups within the so-called Syrian army, participated in the attack on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, noting that the number of victims was much greater than what was announced, and demanded that independent human rights and humanitarian organizations be allowed to enter to investigate the crimes.

Elham Ahmed stressed that all the facts prove that the interim government in Syria does not want to implement the agreements concluded with North and East Syria, calling on it to recognize that it is obstructing the implementation of these agreements, most notably the March 10 Agreement, which the Autonomous Administration confirmed its commitment to implementing and opening the door to dialogue on its basis.

She explained that the interim government was misleading the events by accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces of attacking neighborhoods, warning at the same time of deliberate attempts to cause discord between Kurds and Arabs, and calling for avoiding sectarian discourse and preventing a slide into internal conflict.

Regarding the military escalation, Ahmed said that there is widespread international rejection of the escalation against the Syrian Democratic Forces, pointing to extensive contacts with international forces regarding what is happening in Deir Hafer, and warning that the recent escalation heralds the danger of a civil war breaking out in Syria, especially with the interim government sending large reinforcements to Deir Hafer and Maskanah in the Aleppo countryside.

She also criticized Ahmed Al-Sharaa's statements, considering them contradictory to reality and constituting a declaration of war against the Kurds in light of the crimes committed against them. At the same time, it denied the allegations promoted by the interim government and Ankara regarding the existence of coordination between North and East Syria and the authorities in Iran, describing them as lies that are used as an excuse for escalation.

Elham Ahmed confirmed the continuation of coordination with the United States in the context of fighting ISIS mercenaries, pointing out that one of the conditions for lifting US sanctions on Syria is to protect the rights of all Syrian components, and calling on the US Congress to follow up on the interim government’s commitment to these conditions.

At the conclusion of the conference, Elham Ahmed called on Arab countries to play an active role in helping Syria prevent a slide into internal war, stressing that the Autonomous Administration seeks to involve all Syrian components in running the country and building Syria’s future on fair democratic foundations.

She responded to many journalists' questions, in which Elham Ahmed stressed that the Syrian Democratic Forces bear their responsibilities in protecting civilians, and on the Kurdistan level, she stressed that the general Kurdish position in various parts of Kurdistan is characterized by responsibility.

It considered that the French position comes within the framework of an attempt to protect civilians in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, revealing at the same time the existence of plans and conspiracies that targeted the Syrian people during the Paris meeting.

She pointed out that the interim government in Syria is facing accusations of committing violations against Syrian components, including Alawites and Druze.

She denied the presence of any members of the Baathist regime within the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces, considering that these allegations are being used as a pretext for escalation against northern and eastern Syria. She said, "The transitional authorities treat all members of the Alawite sect as criminals and remnants who must be killed. This is unacceptable."

She added, "We have relations with the Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, and other components since before the fall of the Assad regime. We have sent aid to the Alawites and Druze openly, and we are not ashamed of that. We are Syrians and we can do this. Our areas are safe, and there are displaced Alawites and Druze who have arrived to us. They are not Assad remnants, but survivors of massacres. There are no Assad remnants among our forces, and we do not accept their presence among our forces."

It also revealed that a high-ranking Syrian official thwarted reaching an agreement between North and East Syria and the interim government, without naming him.

Elham Ahmed also confirmed that the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has initiatives to stop the fighting and that they are in contact with Turkey and the international coalition, but Damascus is not responding.

ANHA