FSP: Turkey’s military presence in Syria amounts to occupation

Turkey, as an occupying power, continues to perpetrate atrocities against the people of NE Syria on a daily basis—acts that amount to war crimes. Among the most egregious of these crimes in the past week was the deadly drone strike on the town of Sirrin on January 28, which claimed the lives of 12 civilians, most of them children. These violations persist across the region amid what political leaders describe as deafening international silence.

 Ahmed Al-Khalaf, the Co-Chair of the Future Syria Party’s Council in Tabqa, underscored that since the collapse of the central government in Damascus, Turkey and its allied mercenaries have exploited the ensuing chaos to launch relentless offensives against NE Syria. Their ultimate objective, he stated, is to occupy the region and dismantle the Autonomous Administration, which presents a viable solution to Syria’s protracted crisis.

 Al-Khalaf further accused Turkey of committing systematic massacres in an attempt to break the resilience of the local population. “The latest of these crimes,” he said, “was the massacre in Sirrin, which claimed 12 lives, alongside the killing of six individuals in rural Kobani and three more in Zarghan. These attacks reflect nothing but the brutality and bloodlust of the Turkish occupation and its gangs.”

 Emphasizing his party’s firm stance, Al-Khalaf declared: “We categorically reject these attacks and reaffirm that Turkey’s presence in Syria is an act of occupation. The international community must take decisive action to stop these crimes and secure Turkey’s withdrawal from our land.”

 He went on to stress that “the atrocities committed by the occupation forces against the people of NE Syria constitute war crimes. Turkey’s presence in Syria is a blatant interference in the country’s internal affairs and a flagrant violation of international law. These acts are calculated attempts to terrorize the people and erode their will.”

 Al-Khalaf reiterated that their resistance remains unyielding. “Our struggle continues, side by side with our military forces. The occupation will never break our will. We stand firmly in support of our Autonomous Administration and our military forces,” he affirmed.

 He also noted that through their steadfast resistance, the people of NE Syria have sent a resounding message to the Turkish occupiers: the dignity and freedom of the people are greater than any atrocity Turkey may commit.

 For her part, Barin Ma’mo, the Co-Chair of the Future Syria Party in Tabqa condemned the recent escalation of violence, stating, “The Turkish occupation directly targeted civilians, committing a horrific massacre in Sirrin that claimed the lives of women and children. This atrocity is merely another addition to Turkey’s long record of crimes against our people. We call upon the international community to take a firm stance against Turkey’s crimes.”

 She further warned that in the absence of accountability, Turkey would persist in committing massacres against the people of NE Syria. “They seek to silence and eradicate the voices of the people, but resistance will prevail,” she declared.

 Ma’mo also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the people of the region, asserting, “The act of sacrifice is not new to the people of NE Syria. They stand united, walking the path of their fallen heroes. No crime of the Turkish occupation will break their determination. Their unwavering struggle is a testament to their resilience.”

a.k

ANHA