Turkish attacks deprive little girl of father in NE Syria

By Hawar Hebbo

DERIK, Syria (North Press) – Growing more curious each day, the two-year-old Jourin persistently asks her mother about her father’s whereabouts: “Where is Baba?” The mother’s heart shatters anew as she struggles to explain the unexplainable to her little daughter.

Jourin’s constant questions, fueled by a yearning for her father’s presence, leave a haunting reminder of the price paid by innocent lives in the wake of Turkish atrocities committed in northeast Syria.

Jourin’s father, Khwinrej Tami, had long harbored a dream of becoming a father to a baby girl as his first child, the mother said.

Tami’s wife, Rawan al-Khalaf, faces immense challenges. She struggles with the pain of losing her husband, as well as, she must keep the truth hidden from their daughter, protecting her from the harsh reality of her father’s absence.

“Khwinrej loved Jourin deeply and cherished every moment they spent together, filling her with affection,” the bereaved widow said.

“Although she was too young to fully understand her father’s love, she naturally returned it with a strong bond, holding onto their brief memories as if they were precious treasures,” the heartbroken mother said.

On Oct.9, Tami was killed in a Turkish airstrike targeting a military academy for training Anti-Narcotics Forces, affiliated with the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish), in the village of Hamza Bek in the countryside of Derik (al-Malikiyah), far-northeastern Syria, as a result 29 members of the academy were killed and 28 others were wounded.

Tami, 26, is from the village of Mirka Mira in Derik countryside. He was married and had a two-year-old daughter. He lost his life in a Turkish airstrike that targeted the Hamza Bek center, after eight years of working for the Asayish.

“My husband loved his job immensely, but he had to be away a lot due to the challenges of commuting,” al-Khalaf told North Press.

She talked about his great love to their daughter saying “He was very devoted to our daughter, and now she and I are left alone. She often asks where her father is, but I do not have an answer. I do not want her to be affected and come to terms with his passing.”

Despite her grief, she proudly expresses, “I am proud of my husband for choosing the path of truth and victory. He remained loyal even in his departure, not leaving behind his 28 comrades who lost their lives with him.”

Khwinrej’s father, Muhammad Zaki, laments the loss of his son, saying, “My son spent most of his time working for the Asayish, which are civilian forces recognized by the US-led Global Coalition, however, Turkey targeted them; it targets both civilians and the military bodies.”

The father talked about his son’s work as he was attending a training course. “The Asayish selected those individuals to join the training course and participate in the fight against drugs, Erdogan targeted them. About 40-50 people were victims of the targeting, they left behind sons, wives, fathers, and mothers. They are heartbroken because of Erdogan.”

Zaki believes that Russia and America support Erdogan in carrying out these massacres because they have the power to make decisions. The Asayish have been openly targeted by Turkey while Russia and the US turn a blind eye.

Ali, Khwinrej’s brother, told North Press that when war broke out in Syria, his brother was studying geology. At the time, Khwinrej left his studying to join the Asayish.

He said that his brother worked in different departments, most recently the management of Academies, as well as he participated in the anti-drug course in Hamza Bek. “Just two days before completing the course, they were targeted by the Turkish forces.”

“Why Russia and America conduct patrols when Turkish aircrafts disappear? And why the Coalition troops disappear when Turkey carries out attacks?” Ali wondered.

“This means that the Coalition is aware of this and participated in what happened in Hamza Bek,” Ali concluded.