Dominic Brunaccioni, an political expert and analyst , has written a lengthy article examining the effects of the Turkish Olive Branch military operation in the Kurdish city of Afrin in Syria. He pointed out that only four years after the occupation of this Kurdish city in Syria by Turkey, its Kurdish image has disappeared.
The expert on Kurdish issues wrote in an article published on the website of the Kurdish Institute of Washington that if the Kurdish refugees in Afrin return to the city now, they will not recognize it because many changes have happened in the city after its occupation by Turkey and its affiliated insurgents.
"Turkey and the rebels have settled people from different parts of Syria in this city and its Kurdish houses," Brunacchioni wrote. "This city is a very good place for those who Turkey wants, it is a good place for them to live but not for the Kurds."
He noted that the current focus is on other Kurdish-controlled areas, including northeastern Syria, and that the international community's focus on Afrin has diminished to the detriment of the Kurds and the city.
However, he announced the Kurdish efforts are being continued to preserve the Kurdish identity of Afrin. Brunachioni refered two Kurdish guerrilla groups who are currently fighting insurgents in Afrin.
The expert said Afrin has been sacrificed to Turkey's expansionism, insurgent violence and the international community's ruthlessness, which has had a detrimental effect on the city's Kurdish identity."
He further praised the individual efforts of the Kurds to preserve the original identity of Afrin, but stressed the need for the international community to pay attention to the situation in the city.
Brunachioni, however, believes that in the light of the current tense developments in the world, there is no hope for the international community to support the Kurds in Afrin.
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