The Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê People’s Council issued a statement regarding the ongoing attacks on the neighborhoods and the current situation on the ground. The council stated that since 6 January the neighborhoods have been under heavy weapons fire and bombardment, adding that mosques, schools, civilian homes and public service institutions have been directly targeted.

 

Emphasizing that the people are resisting the attacks, the statement said: “These attacks aim to launch a new wave of massacre and displacement against our people, who have lived in these neighborhoods for hundreds of years. In other words, the demographic structure of our city and our neighborhoods is being deliberately changed. These attacks also constitute a violation and nullification of the April 1 agreement.

 

The Transitional Damascus Government is carrying out these attacks under the name of the new Syrian Army, with the support and encouragement of the Turkish state and the armed groups affiliated with it. We also strongly condemn the silence of the international powers that were guarantors and observers of the March 10 and April 1 agreements. Threats of attack and massacre against Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê continue.

 

The Transitional Damascus Government is calling on the people and our security forces to surrender. However, our people living in these neighborhoods are determined to remain in their homes and to defend their neighborhoods.

 

At present, massacres against civilians are being carried out in areas seized by armed groups. In other words, the crimes and massacres committed against Alawites and Druze are now also being carried out in our neighborhoods.”

 

A SEVERE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

 

The statement underlined that hundreds of thousands of civilians live in these neighborhoods, noting that dozens of residents have been injured as a result of intense bombardment targeting civilians, most of whom are women and children. It added that the Xalid Fecir Hospital, which already had very limited resources, was heavily bombed, describing this as a war crime.

 

“The hospital is now completely out of service. There are no remaining facilities to treat the wounded in our neighborhoods. A serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding. As is well known, our neighborhoods have long been under siege, and the entry of humanitarian aid has been blocked. Winter conditions are further exacerbating the situation,” the council said.

 

The statement noted that transitional government forces and affiliated armed groups are calling for surrender and demanding that civilians leave the neighborhoods, while also seeking the surrender of local defense forces.

 

Concluding the statement, the Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê People’s Council declared: “As the administration of the Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê People’s Council, we reject all attacks against our people and our neighborhoods. Given the actions carried out by the Damascus government against various components of Syria since coming to power—particularly the bombings and massacres perpetrated against our people in recent days—we do not believe we can entrust our security and our neighborhoods to their control. For this reason, it is impossible for us to step back from ensuring the security of our neighborhoods. We have decided to remain in our neighborhoods and to defend them.”