ANF spoke to Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) Co-President Ilham Ehmed about the Manbij operation, the increasing pressures of ISIS gangs in Shehba region and the increasing migrations to the cantons of Rojava (West) Kurdistan.

The hot topic on the agenda is the Manbij operation. How do you as the MSD evaluate this military campaign to liberate the Manbij city?

The peoples of Syria have suffered great pains during the course of the civil war ongoing for 6 years now. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives, millions were forced to migrate to different countries all around the world and tens of thousands were displaced and forced to move to other locations on Syrian lands.

This war has witnessed years, months, days, hours and even minutes when all human values turned upside down. In consideration of this truth, we support every step taken in the name of peoples. This is why we support the Manbij operation as well.

As MSD, we see and treat the liberation of Manbij as a significant and strategic step in the building of a federal system and a Democratic Syria.

With the accomplishment of the Manbij campaign, Northern Syria will be cleansed of ISIS gangs by 80 to 90 percent, which of course means building of Democratic Syria and attainment of freedom by the folks.

As MSD, we support any initiative and entity that could answer the Syrian peoples' demand for freedom, justice, equality and change. This is because we believe it is the only way to overcome the existing crisis.

How will the Manbij operation launched on June 1st affect Rojava, Syria and the region?

The operation to liberate Manbij will have an impact on Rojava, Syria, Middle East and the world. In every aspect, this military campaign will serve the benefits of Syrian peoples. This initiative will also inflict a major blow on the regional and international powers that insist on a deadlock in Syria, as well as on the ISIS and its supporters.

The Manbij operation will cut off the ISIS gangs' connection with other areas in Syria and Iraq and even the world. Of course this situation will also change the current military and political balances. As has been seen, ISIS gangs suffered a major downfall after the heavy defeat inflicted on them in Kobanê.

With the liberation of Manbij, ISIS gangs will enter a process of extinction, and the policies of all the powers that are not based on the unity and existence of peoples in Rojava and Syria will be frustrated.

When this is the case, the peoples of Syria will get the best of the current situation and they will get one more step closer to the Democratic Syria they long for.

Especially with the beginning of the operation to liberate Manbij, ISIS gangs have increased their pressure and savagery against the people in Shehba region. What do you have to say in this regard?

Indeed. As MSD we follow this situation closely. We describe the abduction of civilians, mainly of the Kurds from villages of Aleppo and in Shehba region, as a crime against humanity.

According to reports we have received, ISIS gangs have kidnapped dozens of Kurdish civilians in recent days, massacred them without distinguishing between women and children, and taken the rest to some other places. No news has been received from dozens of civilians since. It is worrisome that the abduction of civilians has remarkable increased lately.

The fact that it is mainly Kurds kidnapped by ISIS gangs reveals the fact that ISIS gangs and the states supporting them in the region want to cleanse Shehba region of Kurds. These abductions can have no other explanation. It is again quite obvious that there is an intention to make the peoples in Shehba region confront and kill one another.

Rojava region has let in a growing number of immigrants recently. As is known, the cantons of Rojava are long under an attack and embargo. How will the cantons undertake such a heavy burden?

The intense flow of immigrants from Shehba region to Rojava cantons continues due to the pressure and savagery of ISIS gangs. We as MSD have presented our projects in this regard to international institutions and establishments. Discussions on this issue are already under way.

We hope to come up with a positive result out of these discussions because our people do really need it very much. The Rojava cantons under attack and embargo can shoulder this burden but we expect the UN, EU and international humanitarian aid organisations to share this heavy burden with us.

Such an assistance is of great importance for the living conditions of both Rojava people and all those taking refuge in the cantons of Rojava.

People of Rojava do share their own bread, water, food, clothes and blankets with the immigrants. Yet, this doesn't suffice and we hence expect the UN and humanitarian aid organisations to assume responsibility to hinder a probable humanitarian crisis.