SDF urges Kurdish, Syrian diaspora to take to streets of Europe, protest Turkey's attacks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are calling on the Syrian and Kurdish diaspora to take to the streets of Europe in protest of the Turkish attack on Afrin and and stop their agenda from "dividing Syria" and claiming that the lives of one million people are at stake.
Issuing an emergency message, the SDF called on the "Kurdish, Syrian diaspora and democratic parties to start protests in support of the resilient nation of Afrin and against the Turkish invading attacks, and to stop Turkey’s agenda from dividing Syria and rescuing one million people from the murder and destruction committed by Turkey in Afrin."
The message issued by Ilham Ahmed, co-leader of the council of the SDF also read that "we are at a decisive stage to defeat enemy attacks and protect our nation in Afrin."
Turkish forces and their proxy, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) advanced on Saturday to less than two kilometers from the center of Afrin city, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
Turkish troops and their Syrian allies have surrounded the city of Afrin and are ready to “enter at any moment” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on Friday, saying Manbij would be next.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin with the stated aim of clearing “terrorists” from its borders.
Ankara alleges the YPG and YPJ and the ruling PYD are branches of the PKK, a named terror organization. The Kurdish groups deny the charge.
The YPG has slammed what they describe as global silence on the military offensive. “This people will forgive, but will never forget the invaders and their crime partners.”