Turkish Soldiers Fire on Civilians in Afrin Canton in Rojava, 5 Injured

Turkish soldiers who crossed the border into Afrin Canton in Rojava-Northern Syria Federation to build a wall fired on people protesting the incursion today.

Hundreds of people from the Cindirês, Mabeta and Şiyê districts gathered in the Şedaya village in Raco district to protest the Turkish army’s incursion into the area.

Protestors were fired on by the soldiers in the early afternoon and 5 civilians were wounded.

Fatma Silêman, Hêvî Elo, Rifet Bîlal and Îdrîs Weqas were injured in the aggression with the ID of a fifth person not being clarified. 

Reports from the area say protests are continuing against the building of the wall in Şedaya. Protestors say the wall is being built to divide the Kurdish people living in Rojava and Turkey’s Kurdish region and to suffocate the democratic system being built in the area.

Afrin is Rojava’s most western canton. Turkey and Turkish-backed rebels launched the ‘Euphrates Shield’ operation in August to prevent the connection of Rojava’s central canton Kobane with Afrin.

Commentators have said Turkey’s exclusion from the operation to liberate Islamic State’s so-called capital Raqqa is also another reason for the Turkish army’s aggression on Afrin, the Shehba region and Kobane.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, including the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey opposes, are leading the operation ‘Wrath of Euphrates’ to liberate Raqqa.

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