Turkish soldiers launched a series of airstrikes and began a ground offensive against the Kurds in Northern Syria just a few days after Trump decided on Sunday (6 October) to pull back the U.S. troops in the area.

Until then, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - which include the Kurdish “People’s Defense Forces” (YPG) and the “Women’s Defense Forces” (YPJ), key players liberating Syria from the Islamic State - were backed by the U.S.

“We are deeply concerned with the latest aggression led by Turkey against the Kurdish people in Syria. We cannot be silent on the responsibility of Trump and the US administration. Neither can we be silent on the complicity of the EU, which pretends to care, but pays billions to Erdoğan to halt the flow of refugees to Europe. Our affiliates in the region are threatened and persecuted for trying to save lives in this conflict. Invading the Kurdish territory is not a solution in the search for lasting peace,” says PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli.

The area controlled by the Kurds under attack represents 30% of Syria's territory and encompasses 2 million people.

In the face of this latest aggression against the Kurdish people, international solidarity committees are calling everyone to the streets for a global day of action on 12 October.

Read the statement from the International Rojava Solidarity Committees:

Since the establishment of the Kurdish democratic autonomous self-administration in North and East Syria (DASA), the border between Turkey and North and East Syria has been highly secure and no armed actions against Turkey have originated from this territory. In recent talks mediated by the US administration between the DASA and the Turkish state, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have demonstrated their willingness to work for lasting peace.

The new statement released by the White House, US President Donald Trump has violated the agreement negotiated between the DASA and the Turkish state. This statement demonstrates that the US has seemingly abandoned the Kurds, resulting in an area which has been, until now, an oasis of stability and coexistence in Syria, having to face another period of bloody conflict.

Turkish President Erdoğan and his authoritarian regime represent totalitarian dictatorship, militarism and violent persecution of minorities, and the Kurds and their allies in North and East Syria. More than 11,000 men and women from the security forces of North and East Syria gave their lives to liberate this region from ISIS, to protect the peoples of North and East Syria and to provide them with a better future, and over 22,000 more were wounded in this hard-fought campaign. By doing this, the world was protected from ISIS brutality.

An invasion of the region by Turkish forces will create circumstances in which ISIS can be revived and commit crimes against humanity, once again becoming a threat to the entire Middle East, Europe and the world causing untold death and destruction and compelling millions to flee their homes and become refugees.

Therefore, we call upon the international communities and civil society organizations worldwide to take action against the Turkish occupation and ethnic cleansing against Kurds in North and East Syria on October 12, 2019.

Stop the Turkish occupation!
Stop Turkish ethnic cleansing!