By Fadi al-Hussein
Manbij, Syria (North Press) – The Turkish shelling that targeted vital infrastructure in northeastern Syria sparked fears for Ismael and the people of Manbij, northern Syria, of the possibility of similar attacks.
Ismael Qatwan, 38, a resident of Manbij, is concerned about Turkey’s targeting of the infrastructure in Manbij. He said, Turkey’s attacks “directly target people’s lives as these facilities, such as water and power plants, are the main staples of life.”
Since Oct. 5, Turkey has launched a series of airstrikes on areas stretching from the city of Derik in the far northeast of Syria all the way to Qamishli, Hasakah, Kobani, and the northern countryside of Aleppo. The attacks effectively put gas plants and power facilities completely out of service.
Qatwan believes that Turkey, by attacking the infrastructure, targeted the region’s population and “indirectly the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).” The Turkish shelling became a source of anxiety for the entire population in the region.
He told North Press that the Turkish airstrikes exacerbate the suffering of the people who are already face difficult living conditions.
Rashid fears the possibility of a war launched against his city as well. He believes destroying the infrastructure endanger the entire population and pose the threat of a “catastrophe.”
Rashid al-Ahmad, 57, a resident of Manbij, said that damaging and disrupting the operation of the infrastructure deprive people of their basic necessities, such as water, electricity, hospitals, and schools.
In its recent escalation, Turkish forces targeted 264 sites in northeastern Syria over the period of 10 days, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press.
The attacks hit 29 infrastructure sites, 185 residential sites, and 38 military sites, including 25 posts of the Syrian government forces, seven farmlands, three factories, a school, and a hospital.
“We do not wish harm for ourselves or others. The people did nothing wrong that would urge attacks on infrastructure. Attacking the infrastructure means attacking the population,” al-Ahmad told North Press.
He hopes that such attacks do not happen again as it has impacted the entire population in northeastern Syria, particularly with the targeting of vital facilities such as Sweidiya gas plant and oil wells.
Al-Ahmad calls on the international community to halt Turkish attacks on the region, as their consequences affect the population as a whole.
Before the Turkish escalation, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan connected the Ankara bombing on Oct. 1 to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). After the bombing, he threatened that his country would target critical infrastructure in northern Syria. These claims were denied by AANES and the SDF, and they both accused Turkey of fabricating pretexts to justify an attack on the region.
Turkish forces targeted the sites with 356 strikes, including artillery, heavy weapons, warplanes, and drones. During the ten-day Turkish escalation, nine civilians lost their lives, and 15 others were injured, while 39 military personnel lost their lives, and 34 were injured, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department at North Press.
Turkish drones targeted 52 sites, including 19 infrastructure sites, 22 residential sites, and 11 military sites, of which five belonged to government forces, according to the Department.
Meanwhile, Muhammad al-Issa, a 39-year-old resident of Manbij, has urged the international community to take decisive actions to deter such attacks that not only target infrastructure but also endanger the lives of residents.
The Turkish airstrikes on vital facilities in northeastern Syria since October 5 have led to power outages in cities like Hasakah, Qamishli, Tirbe Spiyeh, and Derik.
On October 12, the Foreign Relations Department of the AANES called on all human rights organizations, international institutions, and fact-finding committees to work towards conducting a clear, transparent, and impartial investigation into Turkey’s massacres and violations in the northeastern regions of Syria.