ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Political parties in north and northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday urged the public to “protect the achievements” of the Kurdish-led administration, emphasizing the need for comprehensive national dialogue in Syria, amid attacks by Syrian National Army (SNA) militias on Kurdish forces in the northern city of Manbij. The parties also called for starting comprehensive national dialogue in Syria.
“At this critical juncture, we call upon all components of the North and East Syria region to protect the achievements of the Autonomous Administration and rally around the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a guarantor of security and stability in the liberated areas,” read a statement signed by 34 parties in Rojava, headed by the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
“The SDF has proven itself to be an inclusive national force dedicated to protecting the people in all their diversity, committed to pluralism and democracy as foundations for building Syria’s future,” the statement continued.
While congratulating the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s Baathist regime, the parties emphasized the need to ensure security and stability in Syria, promote comprehensive national dialogue, and build a “pluralistic, decentralized, and democratic Syria.”
This comes hours after Syria’s civil war dramatically reignited late last month when a coalition of rebels led by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a blistering offensive against the Syrian army. They quickly took control of the northern city of Aleppo, the largest in the country, and then advanced to capture the strategic central province of Hama.
Their blitz continued as they captured Homs, and culminated in the fall of Damascus as rebels said President Bashar al-Assad fled the country, ending over five decades of Baathist rule.
However, following the fall of Damascus, SNA militias, which are supported by Turkey, attacked the Kurdish-controlled city of Manbij in northern Syria.
Earlier on Sunday, the SDF said in a statement that its forces clashed with the SNA at the entrance of the city of Manbij.
Ziyad Haj Obaid, an SNA military commander, told Rudaw that they have taken over Manbij, and expelled the Kurdish forces from the city, adding that they are not intending to advance beyond the city.
SNA advance came with aerial assistance from Turkey. The SDF said in a statement that Turkish warplanes bombarded the building of the Manbij civil council.
Kurds have greatly expanded the territory under their control to cover most of oil-rich Deir ez-Zor province in the east after Syrian government forces and their pro-Iran allies withdrew to redeploy in other areas where the regime is fighting rebels.
Also on Sunday, the SDF denied reports of its withdrawal from Deir ez-Zor after Syrian rebels claimed to have captured the eastern city. A day prior, Abdi issued a general amnesty in newly-controlled areas of Deir ez-Zor.
On Sunday, the White House said that US President Joe Biden was following the “extraordinary” events in Syria.
“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement on X.
Also on Sunday, the SDF denied reports of its withdrawal from Deir ez-Zor after Syrian rebels claimed to have captured the eastern city. A day prior, Abdi issued a general amnesty in newly-controlled areas of Deir ez-Zor.
