The Riseup4Rojava Network issued a statement condemning the Turkish attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria.

The statement said: “On 23 December, the Turkish state launched a brutal bombing campaign against civilian infrastructure in Rojava (Northern Syria). With the area still struggling to recover from the attacks it suffered in early October, this new series of raids is preventing any stabilization of the region.

In October, a first Turkish attack targeted the vital infrastructure of Rojava (gas, electricity, water, sites for the production of essential goods, etc.), causing massive damage and endangering the livelihoods of millions of people.

The new air raids just launched by the Turkish state are targeting the same vital infrastructure and are also targeting workplaces and production sites. The new air raids just launched by the Turkish state are targeting the same vital infrastructure and are also targeting workplaces and production sites. No matter what the consequences of these attacks (which are still ongoing) will be, it is already certain that we are facing a catastrophe in Rojava with winter approaching and electrical & fuel production severely damaged.”

The statement continued: “In the mountains of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the guerrillas have launched a series of victorious actions against the Turkish occupation forces, which are far from succeeding in weakening the resistance to the Turkish occupation despite the use of weapons that are banned under all international conventions. Having suffered numerous casualties, the fascist Turkish state is now turning its rage to the people of Rojava. The civilian population and their livelihoods are being targeted in order to punish the people and weaken the bond between the people and their self-defense forces.

While the region is regularly struck by drones targeting representatives of self-administration structures, self-defense forces and the civilian population, this new offensive aims to dissociate the people from democratic confederalism structures by instilling fear in society. These attacks target a political project put forward by the peoples of the region. A stateless, democratic, ecological, multi-ethnic and multicultural society, driven by the vanguard of women. Turkey’s genocidal policy is aimed at displacing the people, essentially ethnic cleansing.”

The statement added: “In the face of this situation, we call on all revolutionary forces, anti-fascists, democratic and freedom-loving people around the world to organize and put pressure on Turkey wherever it may be. Let us not forget that the Turkish state often wages its dirty war with political support and with Western weapons and technologies. From spreading information to protests in front of Turkish embassies to other forms of direct action and civil disobedience, there are countless means.

What we need now is a quick response to stop the attacks immediately!”