In a recent surge of military action, Turkey has launched a series of airstrikes over North-East Syria, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure. Reports indicate that within a span of three days, the Turkish army carried out airstrikes on 80 centers, striking at the very heart of civilian life in the region.
Among the casualties are five Syrian soldiers and at least six civilians, with several more injured, including a woman and her two children who were harmed in an attack on their home in Kirbetlî village.
The targets of these assaults have been predominantly civilian in nature. Civilian houses, agricultural centers, factories, power, gas, and oil stations have been bombarded.Due to the attacks of the occupying Turkish state, the education of 890,860 students in North and East Syria is also in danger.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) reported a litany of destroyed facilities, including oil stations, electricity plants, and control points of the internal security forces. According to AANES, Turkey’s operations are not aimed at military targets but rather are calculated strikes on civilian infrastructure, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in North-East Syria.
International law dictates that all reasonable precautions must be taken to minimize civilian casualties, but Amnesty International has previously accused Turkey of war crimes in operations that resulted in civilian deaths. Furthermore, a statement from the Taqba province in northern Syria condemned Turkey’s actions as attempts to undermine regional stability and called for international intervention against these repeated violations.
The strikes have not only claimed lives but have also devastated civilian amenities. The Energy Office of AANES disclosed that the attacks specifically aimed at disrupting the energy supply to the civilian population. The breadth of the targets is staggering, spanning grain silos, an animal farm, a cement factory, several power stations, and numerous other essential structures.
This aggressive campaign comes as retaliation for attacks on Turkish bases in northern Iraq, which Ankara attributes to Kurdish militants. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted several ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from the border areas of Northern Syria. This latest escalation indicates a continuation of Turkey’s efforts to target Kurdish elements, which it deems terrorists, at the expense of Syria’s civilian infrastructure and population.
Relevant articles:
– Turkey bombed 80 centres in North-East Syria in three days, targeting civilian areas
– Syria reports Türkiye shelling and airstrikes resulting in casualties and infrastructure destruction, JURIST, Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:33:13 GMT
– Eight civilians killed in Turkish strikes on Syria: monitor, media, FRANCE 24 English, Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT
– Turkey retaliates after PKK kills nine soldiers, Rudaw Media Network, Sat, 13 Jan 2024 07:13:52 GMT