Kurdish forces in Syria have begun evacuating civilians from their enclave in the Aleppo region following an assault by armed groups supported by Ankara. Civilians are now relocating to safer areas controlled by Kurdish forces, according to a local official.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), predominantly led by Kurdish factions, announced earlier that they were working to evacuate Kurdish civilians from various parts of the northern Aleppo province.
This decision follows the capture of a town inhabited by tens of thousands of Kurds by pro-Turkish groups, as well as a blitz attack launched on 27th November by rebel groups led by radical Islamists against areas controlled by government forces in northern Syria.
On Sunday, pro-Turkish groups claimed to have taken control of the strategic town of Tal Rifaat in northern Syria, near the Turkish border. The town had previously been under Kurdish control.
Ongoing evacuations
Farhad Sami, a spokesperson for the SDF, stated that a small group of civilians had already reached the Kurdish-controlled town of Tabqa, with additional displaced individuals expected to arrive in the coming hours. Sami added that a convoy of nearly 200 vehicles was en route to the town.
The head of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, confirmed that the forces were coordinating with all parties involved in Syria to ensure the safety of displaced civilians. He noted that efforts were being made to facilitate their transfer from Tal Rifaat to safer areas in the northern part of the country.
Abdi also revealed that the pro-Turkish offensive was facilitated by the withdrawal of Syrian government forces and their allies from the region during the 27th November attack. This retreat allowed rebel groups to seize control of Tal Rifaat.
Challenges in civilian evacuation
Abdi said SDF forces had attempted unsuccessfully to establish a humanitarian corridor between the area and SDF-controlled regions to evacuate civilians and prevent potential massacres.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, approximately 200,000 Syrian Kurds remain trapped in the area. Tal Rifaat is primarily an Arab-majority town, but tens of thousands of Kurdish families moved there following a Turkish-led offensive on the Afrin region.
Strategic and historical context
Tal Rifaat is situated in an enclave controlled by Kurdish forces and is surrounded by areas under the control of pro-Turkish groups and the Syrian army. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly threatened to launch an attack against this enclave.
The town’s significance stems from its location and its history as a refuge for displaced Kurdish families who fled earlier Turkish military operations. The current escalation has raised concerns over the humanitarian impact and the potential for further violence in the region.
Also read: Syria: 11 civilians killed in bombings by Syrian and Russian aircraft
Source: ANA-MPA
