Thousands of Displaced Civilians Trapped and Abducted by Turkey-backed Factions in Northern Syria
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Thousands of displaced civilians from Tal Rifaat and its surrounding areas in northern Aleppo are trapped in dire conditions, following a blockade imposed by Turkey-backed opposition factions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have accused these factions of abducting civilians, detaining vehicles, and preventing the population from accessing basic necessities like food and water.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds in Northern Syria
The situation in northern Aleppo has grown increasingly alarming. Civilians, already displaced by ongoing clashes between rival factions and government forces, have been stranded for days, reportedly subjected to severe restrictions and abuses.
The SDF claims that over 15,000 people are being held under conditions that amount to collective punishment. Civilians attempting to flee the violence have been intercepted, with their vehicles confiscated and hundreds taken to unknown locations.
Targeting Civilians Amid Conflict
According to the SDF, more than 120 vehicles filled with families were stopped by Turkey-backed factions, their passengers forced into captivity. These individuals were allegedly transported to a site near Sheikh Najjar, a strategic area in northern Syria.
The detained civilians, which include children, women, and the elderly, face hunger, cold, and mounting health issues. With temperatures plummeting at night, the lack of shelter and medical care is worsening the situation, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.
Failed Efforts for Safe Passage
Efforts to negotiate safe passage for the displaced have repeatedly failed. The factions controlling the region have reportedly obstructed attempts to evacuate civilians, leaving thousands stranded on open roads and in makeshift camps without resources.
Local activists have reported that even those with urgent medical needs are being denied assistance. Families with young children have been spotted camping in freezing conditions, struggling to survive without sufficient food, water, or heating supplies.
Broader Context of Escalating Violence
The worsening humanitarian crisis comes against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict in northern and western Syria. The situation in Tal Rifaat escalated when Turkey-backed factions launched an offensive in the region, targeting areas controlled by the SDF and other Kurdish forces.
The Syrian government and its allied forces have also been locked in fierce battles with opposition groups, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has launched attacks across Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo. Civilians in these contested areas have been caught in the crossfire, leading to mass displacements.
The crisis highlights a recurring pattern in the Syrian conflict: the weaponization of civilian suffering. Displacement and siege tactics have been frequently used by various factions to exert pressure on opposing groups.
Appeals for International Intervention
The SDF has called on international organizations, including the United Nations and human rights bodies, to intervene and ensure the safe passage of trapped civilians.
Local humanitarian organizations have also urged for urgent aid deliveries to the affected areas. However, the ongoing fighting and road blockades have made access nearly impossible.
The Human Toll
The trapped civilians in Tal Rifaat are part of a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, where millions have been displaced over the course of the conflict. This latest crisis underscores the failure of international diplomacy to address the root causes of the Syrian war or to protect civilians caught in its crossfire.
Families forced to flee from one area to another continue to face new dangers, from airstrikes and clashes to blockades and abductions. For the people of Tal Rifaat, the immediate concern is survival.
In the words of a displaced man who managed to contact local media before being cut off:
“We left our homes because of the fighting, but we are treated worse on the roads. They see us as enemies, but we are just civilians. We don’t know if we will survive another night.”
The Need for Immediate Action
As conditions deteriorate, the international community must act to ensure that the displaced are granted safe passage and that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. Without coordinated efforts, the crisis in Tal Rifaat risks becoming another dark chapter in Syria’s prolonged conflict, marked by suffering and impunity.
The coming days will be critical in determining whether the trapped civilians receive the support they need or are left to endure further atrocities.
Reporting by Osama Ibrahim