Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) Co-chair İlham Ehmed spoke to ANF on the Raqqa operation launched 3 days ago under the name “Wrath of Euphrates”.

Ehmed said that the territories of Eastern, Southern and Northern Syria will be united with the liberation of Raqqa. She pointed out the geographical, military and political significance of the liberation of Raqqa and stated the following:

“For three years, Raqqa has been under oppression from first Nusra, and then ISIS. ISIS settled in there, they built up their institutions. They trained their terrorists there and sent them all around the world for terrorist activity. They carried out the terrorist massacre activities in many countries, in Europe and in Turkey against Kurds, ans against civilians in Syria with the people they trained there. They organized in there. They organized and actualized the threat on humanity in there. Raqqa is the center of ISIS tyranny. It is where thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people have been massacred barbarically. In a sense, it is where human dignity has been trampled. Its liberation means the emancipation of human dignity. Raqqa is the capital of ISIS. So, it is the capital of barbarism.”

“MORE IMPORTANT THAN MOSUL”

Ehmed also reiterated that Raqqa was where the caliphate was announced, and underlined that with the liberation of Raqqa, the ISIS groups that can cross over to Syria from Mosul and Iraq would be cut off. Ehmed continued: “The Mosul Operation was launched earlier. Mosul is surrounded on three sides. Only the path through Bokemal to Dera Zor and then to Raqqa was left open. This means the gangs stuck in Mosul and the periphery of Tel Afar will cross over to Syria. In this context, the operation to liberate Raqqa also means blocking the path for the gangs that may come through there. So, the Wrath of Euphrates operation launched to liberate Raqqa has more significance than the Mosul operation.”

“IT IS SEEN THAT WE ARE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE FORCE AGAINST ISIS”

Ehmed also stated that the liberation of Raqqa means Syria and the world being cleared off terrorism. She underlined that the liberation of Raqqa meant “saving humanity from the vice of terrorism” and spoke on the military and political aspects as:

“The liberation of Raqqa means clearing the area that separates Northern, Southern and Eastern Syria. So, there is great political significance. It is important for the peoples to govern themselves. It plays a key role in the Syrian problem and ending the civil war. The solution to the Syrian problem can come only through such a system. The problem can be resolved if the people govern themselves in their localities. This is what we say and defend all the time, and we are fighting in the military, political and diplomatic spheres to that end.

The Coalition Forces especially wanted to launch this maneuver with the QSD, because everybody knows the only force that can truly fight against and defeat ISIS in all over Syria up to now. No other force actually has the power to fight against and defeat ISIS.”

“TURKEY AIMS FOR ALEPPO”

Syrian Democratic Council Co-chair İlham Ehmed also spoke on the attacks and invasion of Turkey and their allied gangs in the region:

“The Turkish state has been conducting intense attacks on Efrîn and Shehba for some time now. These attacks develop in the context of an invasion on Rojava and Northern Syria, and they aim to stop autonomous zones or a federal system from taking root in Syria and Northern Syria. Especially the most recent attacks on Efrîn have this purpose. Another important purpose is to create a buffer zone from Azaz to Idlib. They want this buffer zone for when they invade Aleppo and take over through attacks, to finally add to their own territory. Turkey’s goal is to reach Aleppo. Aleppo is a historic and commercial town. They want to retake Aleppo they gained with the Marj Dabiq in the Ottoman times and turn it into the capital of trade.

Because whoever takes Aleppo has a say in Syria. Whoever controls Aleppo controls Syrian politics, and will be in the center of all developments in Syria. Turkey has set this goal, but whether they can succeed is another question. Because Russia, US and Iran are trying to have control over Aleppo just as hard as Turkey. Thus, in their plans to take over Aleppo, they will most definitely come up against other powers. There will be conflicts and in the case of an imposition, there will be clashes.”