SDC calls for ending Turkish Occupation; restoring national sovereignty

The Syrian Democratic Council issued a statement today on the sixth anniversary of the occupation of Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tal Abyad on October 9, 2019, stating:

“On the sixth anniversary of the occupation of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad on October 9, 2019, when Turkey and its allied Syrian factions launched a military aggression that resulted in hundreds of casualties and forced displacement of over 200,000 original residents, marking one of the most severe crimes targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Council pointed out that “the Turkish occupation was accompanied by systematic violations including killings, arrests, looting, and property confiscation, alongside attempts to change the demographic reality to serve Turkey’s agenda in northern Syria.”

The statement explained that the fall of the former regime in December 2024 and the formation of the transitional government marked a political turning point that revived hope among Syrians for a new phase restoring national dignity. However, the continued Turkish occupation and the presence of its allied factions in the occupied areas place a direct responsibility on the transitional government to work toward ending this occupation and guaranteeing the safe and dignified return of the original inhabitants.

The statement highlighted that the ongoing violations and forced resettlement in Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad represent a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, aiming to erase the historical identity of these areas and undermine their diverse social fabric.

The Syrian Democratic Council affirmed that ending the Turkish occupation and the withdrawal of its allied factions is a national duty and a fundamental condition for the success of the transitional process and for achieving security and stability in the country.

The Council called for the implementation of the March 10 Agreement as a national framework guaranteeing Syria’s unity and a just political solution. It also urged international powers and human rights organizations to assume their responsibilities in stopping violations, holding perpetrators accountable, and securing the safe and voluntary return of displaced persons under national and international supervision to ensure the restoration of rights and a return to normal life in the occupied areas.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the Council’s commitment to political and peaceful struggle to end the occupation, achieve justice, and build a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria where citizens’ dignity is preserved and equality and rights are respected without discrimination.

ANHA