MESOP NEWS “RESISTANCE STATEMENT”: Kurdish Leaders in Afrin Ask Regime for Help

WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)

26 Jan 2018 – Facing a Turkish-rebel offensive, Kurdish leaders in the Afrin canton in northwest Syria have appealed to the Assad regime for assistance.The local government for Afrin said in a statement on Thursday: The Afrin area is an inseparable part of Syria and our forces the People’s Protection Units have been undertaking a national duty for six years, protecting the area against the offensives of ISIS terrorists, Al Qa’eda, and others on Syrian soil, contributing to preserving the unity of the Syrian lands and national institutions….

While we insist that we will continue to defend Afrin against rabid external attacks and will confront the Turkish attempts at occupying Afrin, we invite the Syrian State to carry out its sovereign duties towards Afrin and to protect its borders with Turkey from attack.Reports have indicated that the regime has not allowed the movement of Kurdish militia from northern and eastern Syria, across territory which it controls, to Afrin. The local government referred to this, accusing the regime of not carrying out “its duty” to the region.

The regime has threatened to shoot down Turkish warplanes, but so far has taken no action.

There is no regime response on State media to Thursday’s appeal. A Turkish Foreign Ministry official declined to comment. Turkey and Free Syrian Army units launched attacks on Afrin last Friday, beginning with shelling and airstrikes before the movement of ground forces on Sunday. The Turkish military claimed initial gains north of Afrin, but Kurdish outlets say the territory, including the high point of Mount Bursaya, has been retaken.