Democratic Union Party (PYD) co-chair, Salih Muslim, spoke to ANF about the Turkish state's increasing attacks against Northern and Eastern Syria.

Muslim said that the Turkish plan of destruction continued with the establishment of a war government after the 14 and 28 May elections. "We said that a few months before the elections. The removal of a dictator, a despot, from the pulpit by fair means has never been accomplished in history. Unfortunately, our prediction came true. We can see this now. Fascism grew and strengthened its position using all kinds of fraud. Now it continues to implement the destruction plan it has implemented since 2014. Rojava is the first target in this plan. As soon as the new Turkish war government was established, Ankara rolled up his sleeves and attempted to attack us. The attacks have not stopped since the elections. Turkey is using all kinds of methods to attack us, including those that have no place in any law and attack everyone; men, children and women. Turkey wants to destroy the Autonomous Administration and the power Kurds have. Nothing new for us. We knew it, we predicted it. Of course, we, as a  people, will definitely resist these attacks."

'Turkey attacks us before new Astana meeting'

Muslim added: "If we look at the timing of the attacks, we will see that the Turkish state chooses the time specifically for all they have done. As you know, there will be a summit in Astana on 21 June. Turkish fascism probably wants to show its power to the parties in this meeting. Turkey wants to say ‘I will do this. I can even shoot Syrian soldiers. I will shoot the Russian forces as well.’ Its main purpose is to harm the Autonomous Administration. We do not know what will happen at the 21 June meeting. But in a way, they were a little silent. They must have told them to open up the airspace so that not just drones but warplanes can fly over the region. The Turkish government is carrying out attacks comfortably, saying that they have opened their airspace to me."

'We don't think Russia will react'

Muslim said: "Russia needs Turkey now, especially because of the embargo imposed by the west following the Ukraine war. This is now an international issue. For this, they are in a position to easily use us as a chip bargain. We don’t think that the Russians will show a great reaction. Because they have a lot of agreements with Turkey. As for the Syrian regime, it will do nothing but what Russia and Iran say. It is remarkable that no one speaks out against the heavy attacks the Turkish state is carrying out against our region. Nine Syrian regime soldiers were killed. No one said anything. In fact, the Syrian regime didn’t even publish a message of condolence. And the reality is, that neither Russia nor Iran are saying anything."

'We rely on our people; we will resist'

Muslim added: "It is as if everyone has accepted that Turkey will attack in this way. Turkey does what it says. Let's see what the results of the Astana meeting will be... We don't rely on external forces and their attitudes. We rely on our strength and the organization of our people. We will resist. We have no other choice."

Declaration for a solution, trial of ISIS mercenaries

The main target is the Autonomous Administration and the Kurds," said Muslim, adding "as you know, the Autonomous Administration recently issued a declaration for the solution to the Syrian problem. Turkey neither wants a solution for Syria nor does it want the Kurds to take part in it. The Autonomous Administration also announced that it will prosecute the detained ISIS members. Turkey doesn't want that either. Because from the beginning, Turkey has had relations with ISIS and if we bring the mercenaries to trial, Turkey’s crimes and connections will also be exposed. In this trial, which will be held transparently before the eyes of the world, all the crimes committed by Turkish fascism will be exposed. They do not want this, so they continue to attack us."

Gradual withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from northern Syria

Muslim said: "There are many comments out there. That there is something like an agreement between Russia, Syria and Turkey. That Turkey will leave some parts of Idlib to the regime and that the Turkish soldiers will gradually withdraw from the north. That the M4 road between Aleppo and Latakia will be opened. Such a deal can happen. We don't know. There are rumours that some of the gangs there do not accept this. It is not clear whether the Syrian regime will take the risk and fight them, or whether Turkey would succeed in its 4-year-long attempt to silence them and impose its conditions. We do not know what will happen, but such an agreement envisaged that all the forces present there will take action."

‘We took a defense position. We will defend ourselves to the end’

Asked about the possibility of a ground operation in the region. Muslim said: "Everything can be expected from the Turkish state. There are two points I’d like to make. First, we will resist any possible ground operation. But it seems a little difficult that Turkey will actually take the risk of a ground operation. We are ready. The second point is that there are Russian and Iranian forces in Til Rifat, Shehba and Manbij. Invasion attacks are not in Iran's interest. But it remains to be seen whether it will allow this in Astana. We do not rely on them. We rely on the resistance of our people and our forces. Nothing else. We are in a defensive position. We will defend ourselves to the end no matter what. Our people should have confidence in themselves and their own strength. Turkish state drones and all their other weapons may kill a few people, but they cannot break the will of our people. A possible ground operation would mean the end for Turkey. Our forces are ready. We have no choice but to resist. Everyone will act with this awareness."