RIHA - Northern and Eastern Syrian journalists stated that Turkey wanted to "achieve what ISIS failed" with the attacks and said that international silence caused the attacks to increase.

 

Northern and Eastern Syria, which was liberated with the Kurdish-led fight against ISIS attacks, is once again the target of Turkey's attacks. Following the defeat of ISIS, AKP's President Tayyip Erdoğan targeted Northern and Eastern Syria, saying "We will not allow one or more terrorist states to be established in Syria", and under the name of "operation" first Afrin, then Girê Spî. and launched an attack on Serêkaniyê. Turkey, which has been carrying out assassination attacks with Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drone) for years, launched a new wave of attacks in Northern and Eastern Syria after HPG's action against the Ministry of Internal Affairs on October 1. In the attacks that started on October 4, many facilities such as factories, hospitals, schools, dams, water, electricity and petrol stations and refineries were bombed. According to the latest statement made by the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, more than 150 regions were targeted in Turkey's attacks, and many civilians, internal security forces and SDF members lost their lives in these attacks.

 

Jamal Bali and Şervan Mehmûd, who are journalists in Northern and Eastern Syria, which have been the target of attacks for days, evaluated the developments.

 

'TURKİYE BOMBED THE HOSPITAL'

 

Jamal Balî, who has been continuing his professional activities in Kobanê for many years, stated that every area from Shehba to Dêrîk has been bombed for days. Stating that the attacks take place regardless of time and place, Bali said: “This situation makes the lives of civilians risky in every sense. The places where civilians will meet their basic needs such as electricity, water and gas are targeted. A hospital was bombed the other day. Petrol offices are specifically targeted. Civilian people work in all of the targeted infrastructure centers. For this reason, they also become the target of attacks."

 

Stating that there were attacks against Eyn Îsa with heavy weapons, both from the air and on the ground, and that in these attacks, the station providing water to many settlements was targeted and rendered unusable, Bali said: "Millions of people were affected by the attacks. Millions of people were left without water and electricity, and many of them became homeless due to the attacks. The attacks were not a coincidence. They want to achieve what ISIS failed."

 

'SILENCE GIVES COURAGE'

 

Şervan Mehmûd, who carries out journalism activities in the city of Qamişlo in Cizîre Canton, noted that 6 million people were affected by the attacks. Stating that the attacks were a massacre against the citizens living in Northern and Eastern Syria, Mehmûd said: “The people of Rojava have been facing a massacre in front of the eyes of the whole world for almost a week. It continues with attacks every day. Specifically in Cizîre Canton, there are electricity and water outages as the infrastructure is targeted. The winter months are ahead of us and people have been deprived of their most basic needs due to attacks; however, these attacks are seen as normal. This silence and lack of accountability gives courage to Turkey. On the other hand, this stance shows us that international institutions approve these attacks."

 

'PEOPLES ARE ON THE SIDE OF AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT'

 

Stating that life in Northern and Eastern Syria was targeted with the attacks, Mehmud emphasized that the people protected their will and lands against both the attacks and this silence. Mehmûd said: “Demography and people's governance are being targeted in Rojava. Since the people were aware of this, they took to the streets to show that they stood by the Autonomous Administration and SDF forces. The people defend themselves and come together with this awareness. Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Assyrians and Armenians took their place in these protests. They protested both the attacks and the silence in the international arena and showed once again that they would support the Autonomous Administration."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli