Syrian Democratic Council Co-President İlham Ehmed stated that the liberation of Manbij would play a major role in building relations among all parts of North Syria and creating a shared and democratic life. Ehmed said that Manbij would play an important role in the establishment of the system in North Syria, just as North Syria would play a major role in the establishment of a Democratic and Federal Syria.

Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) Co-President İlham Ehmed spoke to ANF on Manbij operation, which was welcomed by the people of Manbij and received great international attention.

MSD Co-President Ehmed stated that the people of Manbij had mobilized politically and militarily before the operation, and the people’s will marked the beginning of the initiative to liberate Manbij.

‘AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE LIBERATION OF RAQQA’

Ehmed described Manbij Operation as a strategic step in the liberation of Syria from gang groups because Manbij was the route ISIS gangs used to enter or exit Syria and travel to Europe. Ehmed said that the liberation of Manbij would also be an important step for the liberation of Raqqa.

‘IT WILL FORM THE BASIS OF THE LIBERATION OF NORTH AND ENTIRE SYRIA’

İlham Ehmed said that Manbij Operation was important for the success of the Democratic Syrian Revolution, and the liberation of Manbij would rob ISIS of its stronghold and enable the establishment of a democratic system in the region and in Syria. Ehmed recalled the Arab-majority aspect of Manbij, and said that the town would play a similar role as Til Abyad does in North Syria.

Ehmed said that Manbij would play an important role in the establishment of the system in North Syria, just as North Syria would play a major role in the establishment of a Democratic and Federal Syria.

‘OPERATION BEGAN WITH THE WILL OF MANBIJ’S PEOPLE’

MSD Co-President Elhem emphasized that Manbij Operation began in response to Manbij residents’ calls for being liberated from the gangs, and said that people from Manbij welcome Manbij Military Assembly forces cheerfully. Elhem noted that the people of Manbij had mobilized politically and militarily before the operation, and the people’s will marked the beginning of the initiative to liberate Manbij.

‘WOMEN GREETED THE OPERATION WITH THE DANCE OF FREEDOM’

Ehmed stated that it is not easy to see women dancing in front of cameras in the Middle East because of the feudal system still in place here, but women in Manbij who have been forced to wear hijab have been doing the dance of freedom in front of cameras as they greeted Manbij Military Assembly fighters liberating their villages. Elhem said that images like this show how discontent women are at ISIS treatment of them, and their dances should be called ‘Dance of Freedom’ because they can truly feel that they will be able to live freely with the liberation of their villages.

‘PEOPLE ARE DETERMINING THEIR OWN PATH’

Ehmed noted that the people of Manbij offered important help to Democratic Syrian Forces during the operation, and welcomed freedom fighters as well as warning them about where to go and where to avoid. Elhem said that the Syrian Democratic Council saw the liberation of Manbij as the basis of the formation of Democratic Syria, and said that people no longer want an outside force to rule over them but are determining their own path.

‘OUR GOAL IS THE LIBERATION OF ENTIRE SYRIA FROM ISIS’

Ehmed emphasized that forces inside the Syrian National Coalition do not want the liberation of Manbij and would rather see ISIS continue to rule over the city, and said that the coalition’s objections to Kurdish presence in Manbij does not serve the interest of peoples in Syria. Elhem said that the coalition mostly serves the interests of Turkey, and the presence of ISIS in Syria will always prevent the democratization of the entire country. Lastly, Ehmed underlined that the main goal of the Syrian Democratic Council and Democratic Syrian Forces was the liberation of entire Syria from ISIS gangs.