ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The northeast Syria (Rojava) administration on Wednesday announced a state of emergency in light of the continued Turkish attacks that have targeted area, signaling to the Kurdish administration’s institutions to prepare the emergency plans to address the situation.
The administration’s general council held a meeting on Wednesday to address the “continuous threats” of Turkey in the area, which have targeted civilians and civil service facilities, according to a statement from the council.
The meeting was concluded with announcing a state of emergency in the areas under the administration, urging the administration’s councils, bodies, committees, and institutions to make the necessary preparations appropriate for the current circumstances, and dedicating all capabilities “in service of the people from any hostile attacks.”
Ankara often targets areas in northern Syria and Rojava.
Turkish artillery shells targeted northern Syria’s Ain Issa district on Monday killing at least two and injuring two others.
Ankara launched its last military incursion in northern Syria in October 2019, which was followed by a deal between Turkey and Russia to drive Kurdish fighters 30 kilometers away from the Turkish-Syrian border.
However, Turkey has recently renewed threats to carry out a new military operation against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria’s Manbij and Tal Rifaat towns in a bid to complete the 30 kilometer “safe zone” it began creating along its southern borders.
The administration’s statement accused Turkey of attempting to carry out demographic change in Rojava and creating a state of chaos and instability that would pave the way for “direct occupation of Syrian lands.”
Ahmet Davutoglu, former Turkish prime minister and leader of the Future Party in June responded to the claims that Turkey has attempted to carry out demographic change in Syria, stating that such an occurrence was not in the best interest of Turkey, as most of those who were displaced in Syria are now refugees in Turkey.
Ankara claims that the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which is an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers both the PKK and YPG as terrorist organizations and a threat to its national security.
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