Mazloum Abdi: Continued attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh could trigger SDF response

The Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, spoke to ANHA agency about the attacks carried out by mercenaries of the interim government against the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh. He stated:

“At a time when we express our support for the heroic resistance shown by the Internal Security Forces in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh—despite the vast disparity in numbers and equipment between the large attacking factions using heavy weapons and the small Internal Security Forces units with light arms, alongside groups of local youth standing with them to provide support—the scale of heroism demonstrated by our people and their steadfast determination becomes evident.

Therefore, we salute the steadfastness of our people, their resistance, and their support for their sons in the Internal Security Forces against this attack, which is unjustified by any means or arguments. We also affirm that we in the Syrian Democratic Forces will not stand idly by if these attacks increase and become an existential threat to our people there.”

Abdi explained: “The government’s declaration of the two neighborhoods as a military zone and the continued indiscriminate shelling that has terrorized civilians are actions aimed at a systematic forced displacement of the original Kurdish residents of these neighborhoods through military force—an act that rises to the level of a war crime.”

He stressed that attempts at displacement are unacceptable and categorically rejected, adding: “At the same time, we urge our people there to remain steadfast, as we have always known them, and to stand against this plan that primarily targets them.”

The Commander-in-Chief of the SDF further noted: “Since the beginning of the attacks until now, we have not ceased efforts to find possible solutions to halt these attacks, whether through initiatives from our side or de-escalation initiatives proposed by the guarantor states in Syria. However, representatives of the Syrian government remain intransigent and continue to reject all proposed de-escalation efforts without justification.”

Abdi pointed out: “The government’s adoption of the language of military force signals an approach that will plunge Syria back into a cycle of violence and killing, in which everyone will be a loser. This disregards the agreements and covenants between us, including the March 10 agreement and the April 1 agreement signed last year between the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods and representatives of the transitional government—specifically Article (3), which stipulates: ‘The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces, bears responsibility for protecting the residents of the two neighborhoods and preventing any attacks against them.’ This also constitutes a breach of international covenants and commitments aimed at sparing civilians the horrors of war, as well as the guarantees pledged to the international community to give Syria an opportunity to demonstrate change from the former authoritarian regime and to align with countries that respect the will of their people, establish pluralism, and protect minorities.”

He emphasized that dialogue and the exchange of views are the foundation for resolving all existing issues, saying: “We reaffirm the importance of dialogue as a principle for addressing dilemmas and problems, and we are ready to do everything necessary to return to dialogue so that the cycle of killing ends .”

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ANHA