Syria's Tal Abyad residents between rock and hard place

By Muslum Etgu

SANLIURFA, Turkey

Residents of Syria’s Tal Abyad have become refugees in their hometown ever since the PKK/PYD terror group took control of the town, Syrian Arab and Turkmen Tribes Association Vice President Omer Dede said Friday.

Tal Abyad district comes under northern Raqqah city from where Daesh terrorists were recently ousted.

The residents of Tal Abyad are between a rock and a hard place. If the PKK/PYD terror group leaves the area in the future, it would fall into the hands of Bashar al-Assad.

In a statement on Friday, Dede hinted at the possible withdrawal of the PKK/PYD from Tal Abyad given that the terrorist group is stretched thin in northern Iraq where clashes with forces loyal to Baghdad have been reported.

“The PKK/PYD, which holds control of Tal Abyad, asked for support from Assad forces to compensate its gap occurred after sending half of its forces to northern Iraq,” he said.

“Tal Abyad will be handed over to Assad regime in a few days,” Dede said, adding “Once Assad forces’ duty finishes in the district, it will again be handed over to the PKK/PYD.”

Dede urged Turkey and other countries to end this “game” being played by Assad and the PKK terrorist organization.

He also said the PKK/PYD aims to establish an independent Kurdish state in Syria, just like in northern Iraq and was seeking help from its partner Assad.

Syrian Turkmen Association President Ekrem Dede said the PKK/PYD terrorist group was threatening residents to obey their order or else face the possibility of living under Assad forces.

“People are afraid to go to Raqqah and Tal Abyad, fearing that the Assad regime would come. Because they know that if Assad comes, he will kill everyone, including children, women and the elderly,” Ekrem Dede said.

The PKK/PYD has been accused by human rights groups of committing significant human rights violations in northern and northeastern Syria, including "ethnic cleansing" massacres.