Syria
Logo of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan region - The Kurdish-led administration of northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday announced a state of “general mobilization” in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), citing what it described as “an existential war” waged by Damascus and affiliated militant groups in violation of an internationally mediated truce.
In a statement, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) said that "factions affiliated with the interim Damascus government" have violated an internationally mediated truce, "launching attacks on our forces on multiple fronts since yesterday [Saturday] morning until now [Sunday].
"Despite all efforts to find peaceful solutions and demonstrate good faith by withdrawing from certain areas... Damascus insists on continuing the fighting and pursuing a military option," the DAANES added, calling on "our people to remain on full alert, uphold the principle of self‑defense, support their military forces, protect their cities, and take part in the struggle to defend their dignity."
The Kurdish-led administration in Rojava further stated, "We are facing a decisive phase: either we resist and live with our dignity, or we are subjected to all forms of oppression and humiliation.
"Accordingly, we call on our people to respond to the general mobilization declared by the [Democratic] Autonomous Administration [of North and East Syria] and to stand alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] and the Women’s Protection Units [YPJ]," the DAANES urged.
Sounding the alarm further, the Rojava administration stated, "We must understand that we are facing an existential war, and to preserve the gains of our revolution and our identity, there is only one option: popular resistance.
The DAANES reiterated, "We call on our people to rally around their forces, to unite together to confront this brutal attack, and for everyone to remain fully vigilant."
The remarks come after the SDF - the de facto military force in Rojava - on Saturday accused Damascus and affiliated armed groups of attacking its forces as they prepared to withdraw from Deir Hafer and Maskanah in eastern Aleppo, as well as from the Thawra oil field near Tabqa, a former Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold in the Raqqa countryside.
“As a result of the Damascus government’s betrayal and its violation of the internationally sponsored agreement, groups of our fighters remain besieged in Deir Hafer and Maskanah [in eastern Aleppo], despite the agreement stipulating a 48-hour withdrawal period,” the SDF said in a statement on X.
The Kurdish-led forces further accused Syrian authorities of “attacking our fighters with tanks,” holding “the Damascus government and the international guarantor powers fully responsible for the safety and lives of our besieged fighters.” They also stressed “the necessity of ensuring their safe passage, with their weapons, to the regions of northern and eastern Syria.”
The Syrian Arab Army’s Operations Command claimed on Sunday that “64 male and female fighters from the SDF” had “surrendered after being besieged by army forces” in Raqqa countryside.
Anticipating an expansion of operations by the Syrian army and affiliated militant groups into Kurdish-administered areas, the DAANES on Sunday urged “all segments of our people - especially young men and women - to arm themselves and prepare to confront any potential attack in the Jazira region and Kobane."
The Jazira region encompasses areas east of the Euphrates, covering much of the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka. Meanwhile, Kobane is a Kurdish city in northern Syria that gained international attention when the SDF’s backbone force, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), backed by the US, successfully repelled a brutal Islamic State (ISIS) offensive in January 2015.
The DAANES further stated that “the aim of these attacks is to undermine the brotherhood forged with the blood of our young men and women, to incite strife and violence among the communities of North and East Syria [Rojava], and to target the country’s indigenous populations, imposing a single color over the rest of the spectrum.”
Interestingly, Damascus and affiliated armed groups are pressing ahead with their military advance into DAANES-administered territories, in violation of the internationally mediated truce, just a day after Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a "special decree" on Friday purportedly guaranteeing the Kurdish people’s "rights and certain particularities."
RELATED: Syria’s Sharaa signs decree allegedly to guarantee Kurdish rights amid conflict
Last updated at 11:40 am.
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