US concerned about attacks on opposition party offices in Rojava
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Friday said it is "deeply concerned" about the recent attacks on the offices of a number of Kurdish opposition parties in northeast Syria (Rojava), after offices were attacked against the backdrop of a fresh Turkish military operation in the Kurdistan Region.
"Intimidation and violence have no place in political discourse, and we urge all parties to engage peacefully in pursuit of resolutions that benefit all concerned," the US Embassy in Syria said.
Offices of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) in the city of Kobane were set on fire with Molotov cocktails on Wednesday, Suleiman Oso, an ENKS official, told Rudaw English, blaming the arson on affiliates of the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD).
ENKS offices in Hasaka and Derik were also set on fire in the last two days.
The attacks come as Turkey launched its latest military offensive, dubbed Claw-Lock, against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the mountains of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region. The PKK claims that the Region's ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is supporting Ankara with the operation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday thanked the Kurdistan Region for its alleged support, claims that the KDP has neither denied nor confirmed.
In 2016, Rojava authorities banned ENKS activities in the region, closing around 40 of their offices and jailing hundreds of members who were later released.
Thanks to an initiative launched by Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the ENKS offices were reopened in early 2020 after their talks with the PYD resumed in late 2019. However, volatile tensions between KDP and PKK have stalled the talks.
"Intimidation and violence have no place in political discourse, and we urge all parties to engage peacefully in pursuit of resolutions that benefit all concerned," the US Embassy in Syria said.
Offices of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) in the city of Kobane were set on fire with Molotov cocktails on Wednesday, Suleiman Oso, an ENKS official, told Rudaw English, blaming the arson on affiliates of the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD).
ENKS offices in Hasaka and Derik were also set on fire in the last two days.
The attacks come as Turkey launched its latest military offensive, dubbed Claw-Lock, against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the mountains of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region. The PKK claims that the Region's ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is supporting Ankara with the operation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday thanked the Kurdistan Region for its alleged support, claims that the KDP has neither denied nor confirmed.
In 2016, Rojava authorities banned ENKS activities in the region, closing around 40 of their offices and jailing hundreds of members who were later released.
Thanks to an initiative launched by Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the ENKS offices were reopened in early 2020 after their talks with the PYD resumed in late 2019. However, volatile tensions between KDP and PKK have stalled the talks.