Turkish dramatic escalation in NE Syria in 72 hours | Turkish forces continue committing war crimes by attacking nearly 50 vital institutions in SDF-controlled areas

Turkish forces continue violating all international laws and conventions and committing new war crimes in Syrian territories at Turkish government’s orders, as Turkish forces started a new aggression on October 5 in SDF-controlled areas in north-east Syria, targeting infrastructure, vital centres and service and economic institutions.

 

The significant destruction and damage to the region’s infrastructure comes after clear threats by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, who stated that the infrastructure, superstructure and energy constructions are targets legitimate targets for Turkish forces. However, all international powers or authorities concerned about humanitarian affairs have taken no action to prevent Ankara from committing new blatant violations and war crimes by destroying the region’s infrastructure and economy.

 

It is worth noting that the Turkish government cites securing its border and attacking the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which does not operate in this region, as an excuse for this absurd military campaign.

 

According to SOHR statistics, 70 sites at least were targeted by Turkish airstrikes since October 5. Those sites included 49 sites of civilian properties and vital infrastructure, some targeted by several strikes, including two hospitals, a dispensary, grain silos, a vital dam, textile and paint factories, water and power stations and a school.

 

Moreover, tens of populated villages in Al-Hasakah countryside have come under attack since Thursday, October 5.

 

These attacks left 15 fatalities, including six civilians. The fatalities are distributed as follows:

 

-Nine persons in Al-Hasakah:

 

• Six members of Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and two other persons were killed in an attack on a military institution in Al-Mushayrifah.

 

• A civilian was killed in Tel Habash village in Amuda.

 

-Five persons in Kobani countryside:

 

• Two tunnel workers in Jalabiyah village.

 

• Three combatants in Sarin.

 

-One civilian was killed in an airstrike by a fighter jet on a station in Al-Qahtaniyah.

 

The international humanitarian law prohibits attacking any non-military targets  stipulates that all conflicting powers must not carry out any indiscriminate or uncalculated attacks that could potentially harm civilians and civilian properties.

 

Here Is a breakdown of the sites of infrastructure which came under attack by Turkish airstrikes since October 5:

 

-Attacks by fighter jets: 20 airstrikes targeted the following positions:

 

• A military institution of SDF and the Bureau of Finance in Al-Mushayrifah area.

 

• An oil site in Kardahoul town.

 

• Sikarka power station.

 

• Taqal Baqal oil station.

 

• Khana water station.

 

• Power station in Al-Malikiyah.

 

• Vital institutions in Karziru village, Mirka, Miral and Qarrah Joukh mountain in Al-Malikiyah countryside.

 

• The COVID hospital in Al-Malikiyah countryside.

 

• The industrial area in Al-Hasakah countryside.

 

• The headquarters of “Star” radio station.

 

• The surrounding areas of Rouj camp.

 

• The paint plant in Ain Al-Arab.

 

• The textile plant in Amuda.

 

• Grain silos on the eastern outskirts of Amuda city.

 

• A site near the sports hall in Kobani city.

 

• The COVID hospital in Ain Al-Arab.

 

-Drone attacks: 29 institutions and stations destroyed in airstrikes by Turkish drones; they are as follows:

 

• Hammah water station in northern Al-Hasakah.

 

• A water station in Al-Rakbah village in Tel Tamr countryside.

 

• An oil institution in Kardahoul town in Al-Qahtaniyah.

 

• The power station in Alat Qaws village in Al-Jawadiyah (Jal Agha).

 

• Al-Sadd Al-Gharbi power station, which feeds large areas in Al-Hasakah city and countryside with electricity.

 

• Car repair shop in Sarin

 

• A power station on Al-Hizam Al-Gharbi road near COVID hospital in Al-Qamishli.

 

• Al-Sa’idah oil station in Al-Qahtaniyah town.

 

• Al-Oudah oil stations in Al-Qahtaniyah town.

 

• A power station in Kharab Askar.

 

• A dispensary in Milsoun neighbourhood in the east of Al-Qamishli city.

 

• A power station in Amuda.

 

• An oil institution near the power station.

 

• The surrounding areas of Al-Oudah oil stations.

 

• An ice-block plant on the international highway.

 

• The gas station in Al-Suwaidiya in Al-Qamishli countryside.

 

• Sikarka power station.

 

• Two power stations in Al-Qahtaniyah and Al-Qamishli on Al-Hizam road.

 

• Mazkaft dam in Al-Qamishly countryside.

 

• An oil station affiliated to Al-Oudah oil stations in eastern Al-Qahtaniyah.

 

• The oil stations of Hamz-bek, Qarjukh and Ar’aor in Al-Malikiyah countryside (Dayrek).

 

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), renew our appeals to the United Nations, the international community and the UN Security Council to exert affective pressure on the Turkish government in order to stop its absurd military campaign and aggression against Syrian civilians, who have already been grappling with disastrous situation due to the protracted war.

 

On the other hand, we call upon civilians to be careful and not to leave Syria through unsafe routes on the Syria-Turkey border, especially with the escalating attacks on civilians and violent pushbacks by the Turkish Jandarma.

 

We also call for referring the cause of killing innocent and unarmed civilians and destroying properties and resources of the Syrian people to international courts, so that all those responsible and those who aided and abetted those crimes can face justice.