Syria: Turkish offensive has left 'massive destruction' - Syrian Democratic Council co-chair

W/S Press conference, Qamishli
M/S People holding pictures of victims
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "And despite the Syrian Democratic Forces' announcement that it would abide to the resolution and halting the fighting operations on the Sarigani [Ras al-Ain] fronts and in Tal Abyad, the Turkish occupation operations did not stop, and the city of Ras al-Ain remained sieged, and the Turkish occupation even banned taking the wounded from hospitals, and it prevents anyone from departing the town until now." *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "The Turkish military operation, which started with an aggression on October 9 under the pretext of establishing a safe zone in northeast of Syria, has left a massive destruction, demolished locales houses and targeted the infrastructure, including electricity plants, water institutions and bakeries. In addition, more than 235 martyrs were killed until yesterday evening, including 22 children, and 677 more were wounded, most of whom sustained serious injuries. Some medical reports stated that there are unknown burn cases, which require investigation by the international bodies that are in charge of the internationally-banned weapons. We would like to show you some pictures and documents, which document the crimes committed against the peaceful civilians." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
C/U Picture of victim *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "Mohammad Haidar, 13 years old, was injured on October 15 in Ras al-Ain. It is suspected that he was hit by an internationally banned weapon. This is an image of Mohammad. The signs of burn are obvious. Such burns indicate that there is an internationally-banned weapon used in this bloody war. This requires investigation panels in this region in order to know the type of weapon used in this war, the result of which is that civilians and children suffer from deep burns. This is testified by the medical posts and staff in all the targeted areas where such cases were received."
M/S Picture of victim and rescue operation *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "Meshrafa village in Sarigane was air bombs on October 18, 2019. Bodies were taken from under the rubles. This is an image of Meshrafa village, demonstrating the scale of demolition that took place in that village. How can there be a talk about a 'safe zone' given such circumstances? Demolition and destruction, and we are talking about a 'safe zone'. So the scale of destruction is clear in this image. There are many corpses that were dragged from under the rubble. This is also another image of Meshrafa village that documents the bodies' parts that are still under the rubble."
M/S People holding pictures of victims *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "Many people, including soldiers, were injured on October 16, 2019. They are likely [injured by] internationally-banned weapons. These are also some images of the burns that can be clearly seen on the civilians and fighters. The burns can be clearly seen on this picture."
C/U Pictures of victims and rescue operation *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Amina Omar, Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (Arabic): "We appreciate the global public opinion, the international community and whoever stood against this flagrant aggression. We also plea the international community and humanitarian organisations to first stick to their duties in this humanitarian disaster and put all the pressure to stop the Turkish aggression; send international observers for the aim of preserving the temporary ceasefire and make it a permanent one, leading to a full withdrawal of the Turkish army, which along with the affiliated insurgents carried out genocide crimes against civilians and looted their properties; send specialised missions to investigate the documented crimes, verified by the documents issued by Amnesty International."
W/S Press conference
SCRIPT
Co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council Amena Omar said that the Turkish military operation "has left a massive destruction," when speaking at a press conference in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Sunday.
Omar argued that the Turkish offensive, which she said had been started "under the pretext of establishing a safe zone" in northern of Syria "has left a massive destruction." She went on to say that the Turkish army "along with the affiliated insurgents carried out genocide crimes against civilians."
According to Omar, many people were injured by what were "likely internationally banned weapons." Showing pictures of victims that appeared to have burns on their bodies, some of whom were children, she said that "medical reports stated that there are unknown burn cases, which require investigation by the international bodies that are in charge of the internationally banned weapons."
The Syrian Democratic Council co-chair also called on the international community and humanitarian organisations to "stick to their duties in this humanitarian disaster and put all the pressure to stop the Turkish aggression."
On October 9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the beginning of the operation dubbed 'Operation Peace Spring' to create a 'safe zone' in northern Syria cleared of Kurdish forces.