AANES official calls for holding Turkey accountable for targeting civilians
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, a senior official in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) called for Turkey to be held accountable for committing “war crimes” by targeting civilians in northern and eastern Syria.
Recently, Turkey has escalated its airstrikes on northern Syria, targeting mostly civilians and officials in the AANES.
Samira Haj Ali, the co-chair of Education and Training Board in the AANES, said, “We demand international courts to hold Turkey accountable for committing war crimes by targeting civilians.”
The official spoke about the targeting of her colleague, co-chair of the Qamishli Region Council, Yusra Darwish, on June 20, saying that targeting female leaders in the AANES makes them “more determined to work towards achieving stability in the region.”
On June 20, a Turkish drone targeted a vehicle carrying officials of the AANES, killing Darwish; the Deputy Co-chair, Leyman Shouish; and their driver, Farat Toma; as well as injuring the other Co-chair, Gabi Shamoun.
Haj Ali told North Press, “Darwish was a teacher and worked in the institutions of the AANES. Her killing is a war crime, and Turkey must be held accountable for it.”
Human rights and concerned organizations should file a criminal lawsuit in international courts to hold Turkey accountable for targeting civilian, she added.