The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) issued a statement about the attack and threat of massacre by the Salafist and jihadist gangs called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) supported by the Turkish state against Syria and Rojava, and called on everyone to defend Rojava.

The KNK statement drew attention to the fact that the regions of Aleppo, except for the Kurdish neighborhoods, fell into the hands of the jihadist Salafist gangs without meeting any resistance by the Syrian regime.

The KNK statement said: "Five days ago, under the coordination of the Turkish state, HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Salafist organization that is the remnants of Al-Qaeda and ISIS) and the SNA (Syrian National Army), which is mostly composed of Salafist forces and is also affiliated with Turkey, attacked the Syrian regime forces. Interestingly, the Syrian army did not resist and withdrew. On the sixth day, they entered the city of Aleppo and Aleppo was captured without a fight, except for the Kurdish neighborhoods. They attacked from other fronts and went to the city of Hema. Since early this morning, Turkish state forces (Syrian National Army) have been attacking the Kurdish regions and the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria. The war is currently ongoing on all fronts, and the biggest attack is in the Shehba region and the town of Tall Rifaat, where most of the refugees from Afrin are located. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria includes all ethnic and religious groups, and is led by women."

Erdoğan threatened Rojava

The KNK statement drew attention to the connection between the HTS and SNA groups and the Turkish state. The relationship between the current attacks and Turkish President Erdoğan’s threat against Rojava was also underlined. "HTS is an international jihadist force and includes tens of thousands of Uyghur, Chechen, Turkmen jihadists, among others. HTS is located on the Turkish border and gets its logistics from Turkey. The SNA is completely dependent on Turkey and acts in accordance with the orders and instructions of the Turkish state. The attacks of these forces are planned with the knowledge and coordination of Turkey. The attacks on the Kurdish regions and the regions run by the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria clearly demonstrate this situation. In fact, Turkish President Erdoğan has been openly saying for some time that he will not allow the Autonomous Administration to exist and that we will completely occupy the north of Syria."

Rojava is facing a massacre

The KNK statement added: "It is clear that the Turkish state is behind these attacks. The neo-Ottoman mentality is behind these attacks and the Turkish state wants to occupy these regions. This is not the first time that the Turkish state has attacked regions run by the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria. The Turkish state has been involved in all kinds of dirty plans and attacks against the Kurds of Rojava since the beginning of the Syrian revolution (2011). It was Turkish state officials who directed ISIS towards the city of Kobanê ten years ago. This attack is similar to the attack carried out by ISIS on Kobanê in 2014. The Kurds of Rojava are facing another massacre."

Do not leave the Autonomous Administration alone

The KNK continued: "We are drawing the attention of all world powers interested in Syria to these attacks and want everyone to see what is really happening and take a stance accordingly. The victory of HTS and SNA would mean being faced with a situation similar to that of ISIS. This situation must be prevented. We call on all relevant powers and world's public opinion to act to stop the attacks by the Turkish state and its affiliated forces and not to leave the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria alone."

Kurds and people of Kurdistan: Let’s defend Rojava!

The statement ended with a call. "In Rojava in general, and especially in Shehba near Aleppo, the refugees from Afrin and our people in that region are under attack and facing massacre. All Kurds and their friends need to follow this situation carefully and take action. We call on all Kurds to take to the streets, and defend our people in Rojava and the Autonomous Administration, as they did during the Kobanê siege."