News Center – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reacted harshly to the “provocative” statements of armed groups affiliated with the Damascus administration against the people and forces of Rojava during the celebrations of the first anniversary of the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime.
In the statement made by the SDF, it was said, “Some regions of Syria witnessed scenes of celebration regarding the fall of the Baath regime. This event reflects the deep desire of Syrians to leave authoritarianism behind and open a new page based on freedom, justice and the will of the people.”
However, in the statement, attention was drawn to some events that took place during the celebrations and the following statements were made:
“In response, dangerous practices and provocative, hostile slogans against the Democratic Syrian Forces and the people of Northern and Eastern Syria arose from the armed groups affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the Damascus government. These scenes fully evoke the mentality of the Baath regime against which the Syrian people rebelled.”
Threatening video from Abu Amsha
While the first anniversary of the regime change across Syria was celebrated with military parades on Monday, a video in which Muhammad Hussein al-Jassim, known as “Abu Amsha”, threatened the SDF was circulated on social media.
Abu Amsha, a former Turkish-backed militia commander who currently serves as a brigade commander in Syria’s new security structure, intimidated the SDF by saying “We are just waiting for instructions” in the video.
The disbanded Sultan Suleiman Shah Division of Abu Amsha was accused of various violations against the Kurdish population in Afrin and other parts of Syria. Abu Amsha is also accused of the murder of Kurdish politician Hevrin Xelef in 2019.
“Damascus cannot escape responsibility”
In the DSG statement, which did not mention any group names, the following warnings were made to the Damascus administration:
“The shouting of these slogans by elements affiliated with the Ministry of Defense imposes clear responsibilities on the authorities in Damascus that cannot be ignored. These actions are either part of an official approach promoted through rhetorical chaos, or they reflect a deliberate inability to control the armed groups under their command. In both cases, the message given to the Syrian people is that the mentality of provocation, which the people overthrew of their own will, continues.”