SYRIAN KURDISH OFFICIAL APPEALS TO ISRAEL FOR HELP
Syrian families fleeing the battle zone between Turkey-led forces and Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in and around the northern flashpoint town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, October 15, 2019. (Credit: Delil Souleiman, AFP)
An anonymous official in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) appealed to the Jewish State today for help repelling the Turkish invasion of their homeland. The stated plea for help came on the basis of a shared history of suffering between the Kurdish and Jewish people, asserting that "the Jewish people understand the situation of the Kurdish people best because it lived these types of dangers throughout much of its history. I am sure that it will not stand by idly as our region faces Turkey’s terror,” Groups of Christians and Jews have rallied in solidarity with Syrian Kurds over the past ten days, including Israeli military officers, who also called on their government to take action in defense of the besieged Kurds. On October 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that his government would provide aid.
Syrian Kurds find themselves on the brink this weekend, as the end of a supposed "ceasefire" looms tomorrow evening. As it is, Turkish air units and their Syrian Islamist proxies have not respected the ceasefire agreement. Some Turkish-backed militias have published videos on social media, displaying war crimes such as the murder of unarmed civilians, and promising to behead Kurds who remain in the 30 km deep "safe zone" along the Turkish border after the ceasefire expires.
Sources: