As the war between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), members of Syrian Kurdish militia Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are looking to bolster their defenses, too.
This statement appeared in Twitter on Wednesday, from the northern Syrian Kurdish city of Afrin.
#Syria #Aleppo #ﺣﻠﺐ #TwitterKurds #Kurds Hezen Xweparastine Hêzên Xwe Parastinê Statement released @ #Afrin Area. pic.twitter.com/6mdXaJ8euU
— Ivan Sidorenko (@IvanSidorenko1) August 6, 2015
Here's the translation:
On May 6, 2015, by the 14th Division Aal Afrin citizens born from 1986 to 1997 are requested to visit the general management of the self-defense institution to serve their role in defending the providence for a period of 6 months within 10 days of this date. Those who do not comply will face legal proceedings.
By the Department of Self Defense
August 1, 2015
The dates here are a little confusing — while the note itself seems to be from May, the date stamped below is from June. The hand-written date in the middle indicates when the sign was purportedly noticed in the city — on August 5.
This suggests the YPG may have used the note for earlier calls to action in Afrin, but now its resurfacing.
The last few weeks have seen the emergence of a new front along the border as Turkish forces are targetting both Daesh (ISIS) positions in Syria and PKK positions in northern Iraq. And while thw YPG and the PKK are separate entities, they are allied, especially in the Kurds' war against Daesh. Reports by YPG officials and monitors in Syrian border towns like Afrin have suggested Turkish shellings have targetted Kurdish positions, too.
It's hard to say what the next few weeks will mean for Afrin and other Syrian-Kurdish towns, but the statement indicates the YPG is looking to bulk up forces.
