SDC Calls for Ending ‘Turkish Occupation’ in Northern Syria

A fighter from Deir al-Zor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) holds the council's flag in the village of Abu Fas, Hasaka province, Syria (Reuters)
A fighter from Deir al-Zor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) holds the council's flag in the village of Abu Fas, Hasaka province, Syria (Reuters)
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SDC Calls for Ending ‘Turkish Occupation’ in Northern Syria

A fighter from Deir al-Zor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) holds the council's flag in the village of Abu Fas, Hasaka province, Syria (Reuters)
A fighter from Deir al-Zor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) holds the council's flag in the village of Abu Fas, Hasaka province, Syria (Reuters)

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) urged the United Nations, US and Russia to end the “Turkish occupation" of cities and towns in northern Syria and help remove the intruders from the houses of original inhabitants.

The Council issued a statement marking the first year of the Turkish offensive into northern Syria, known as “Operation Peace Spring.”

The statement described the Turkish army as the “killing machine” which destroys Syrian cities and commits crimes against humanity. It urged the international community and human rights organizations to launch an independent investigation into the violations committed against civilians in Raqqa.

It also stated that a probe should be launched into the assassination of the secretary-general of Future Syria Party, Hevrin Khalaf, indicating that perpetrators should be tried before international courts and be held accountable for war crimes.

The Council stressed the need to secure the safe return of the forcibly displaced people to their areas.

Meanwhile, several Arab tribes and dignitaries held a meeting in Abu Hamam, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, urging the US, the International Coalition and the Deir Ezzor Civil Council to release all innocent detainees held by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Nasser Osman al-Sabaat, appealed to the international community to support the health and education sectors, provide services and rebuild destroyed infrastructure. They warned that they’d resort to protests and sit-ins if their demands were not met.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced that two bombs exploded in the desert of al- Mayadin, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, near a military checkpoint of al-Abbas Brigade, which is backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The bombs killed two of the Brigade members and injured seven others, bringing the death toll of Iranian militants in Syria since March of last year to 142, according to the Observatory.



Canadian PM Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon as Evacuations Top 1,000

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
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Canadian PM Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon as Evacuations Top 1,000

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadian citizens still in Lebanon on Saturday to sign up to be evacuated on special flights which have already helped more than 1,000 leave as security there deteriorates.

Canada has 6,000 signed up to leave and officials are trying to reach another 2,500 over the weekend, an official in Trudeau's office said, adding that more flights were being added for Monday and Tuesday.

"We've still got seats on airplanes organized by Canada. We encourage all Canadians to take seats on these airplanes and get out of Lebanon while they can," Trudeau said at a summit of leaders from French-speaking countries in France.

Canada has not been able to fill flights with its citizens and has offered seats to people from the Australia, New Zealand, the United States and some European countries, the official in his office said.

Israel has expanded its strikes on Lebanon in recent weeks after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Lebanon's Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Fighting had been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, taking place in parallel to Israel's year-old war in Gaza against Hamas.

Trudeau said an immediate ceasefire from both Hezbollah and Israel was needed so the situation could be stabilized and United Nations resolutions could begin to be respected again.