AANES reveals toll of Turkish attacks on NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced on Wednesday the final toll of the damage caused by the Turkish bombardment in its areas of control between October 5-9.
More than five million people have been affected by the Turkish attacks on energy facilities in AANES-held areas. The bombardment targeted 17 installations, including the Sweidiya gas plant which supplies nearly the entire region with gas and power, according to the AANES statement.
The statement said that the strikes hit 11 power stations in Hasakah, Amuda, Rmelan, Tirbe Spiyeh, Qamishli, Derbasiyah, and their surrounding areas.
According to the statement, 18 water pumping stations went out of service in Hasakah Governorate. Two hospitals, one in Derik and the other in Kobani, also went out of commission.
The Turkish bombardment hit 48 educational facilities, affecting thousands of students who are now unable to continue their education. In addition, two children lost their lives in these attacks and another girl was injured and lost her legs.
The attacks caused three industrial facilities to go out of service in Hasakah Governorate and Kobani. Furthermore, a military academy of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) was hit with an airstrike which killed 29 Asayish fighters and injured many more.
The AANES added that 104 sites were targeted in the bombardment, with their conditions ranging from destroyed, damaged, and out of service. 580 air and ground strikes were carried out from the farthest part of Derik all the way to the northern countryside of Aleppo, covering nearly all AANES-held areas.
The AANES called on all international actors involved in Syria, the UN, the United Nations Security Council, and other parties to take “clear stances regarding Turkey’s practices against our areas and people and regarding its clear obstruction of our people’s endeavors in countering terrorism and maintaining stability in the region, in addition to its obstruction to our joint gains with the [US-led] Global Coalition against the Islamic State [ISIS] and other extremist parties.”
The AANES emphasized the necessity of conducting an open, impartial, and transparent investigation into Turkey’s practices in their regions by specialized international committees.
It demanded that “all those responsible for the destruction and targeting of our people’s livelihoods and causing our children to lose their lives be brought before specialized courts.”
“Turkey commits war crimes in our areas and such acts should not be tolerated,” the statement noted.
The AANES statement further urged all organizations and parties that have played a role in establishing stability in the region to intensify their efforts in assisting the AANES in the reconstruction of the devastated facilities. This support is crucial to provide essential services to people, thereby securing their livelihoods.