Turkish-Backed Forces Move Into Kurdish Regions of Aleppo, 200,000 at Risk of Isolation
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Damascus, Dec 2 (NationPress) Turkish-backed factions have commenced a military operation targeting Kurdish-held zones in Aleppo province, resulting in the isolation of over 200,000 Syrian Kurds, as reported by a war monitoring group.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that this assault, referred to as 'Operation Dawn of Freedom', has focused on the rural areas of Aleppo, where a significant population of Syrian Kurds resides, according to the Xinhua news agency.
The Observatory noted that the Turkish-backed forces, operating under the banner of the Syrian National Army, have taken control of multiple regions, including the city of Tel Rifaat, while also laying sieges on other areas, effectively blocking roads and hindering civilians from escaping to safety.
This military offensive has been accompanied by a communication blackout, which has left local residents unable to communicate with the outside world, the Observatory reported.
In reaction, the Kurdish Autonomous Administration in Syria has announced a general mobilization to counter the advancing forces.
Since 2016, Tel Rifaat and its surrounding regions have been under Kurdish control, serving as a sanctuary for Kurds displaced by earlier Turkish military campaigns.
This offensive aligns with a wider escalation in Syria, where rebel factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and their allied opposition groups are engaging in significant operations against areas controlled by the government.
The Turkish government perceives certain Kurdish factions in Syria, notably the People's Protection Units (YPG), as a major threat to its national security due to their alleged connections to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
