By Fattah Issa
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – For over a month, the Tishrin Dam region, south of Kobani in northern Syria, has been the target of Turkish airstrikes, hitting civilian convoys protesting attacks on this vital infrastructure. The dam plays a crucial role in providing electricity and drinking water for Syrians.
Since early January, civilian delegations from northeastern Syria have been gathering at the dam, demanding an end to Turkish and Syrian National Army-affiliated factions’ attacks around the facility.
Civilian casualties and injuries
Turkish airstrikes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, according to local accounts. Hadla Hassan, a resident of Kobani, told North Press that more than 100 civilians were injured, and nearly 20 were killed due to Turkish shelling targeting peaceful demonstrators.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) reported the killing of 21 civilians and the injury of 203 others due to Turkish drone strikes on civilian convoys near Tishrin Dam. These attacks threaten daily life in the region, which relies heavily on the dam for water and electricity.
Omar Mohou, another Kobani resident, highlighted that the Turkish warplanes and drones have targeted civilians at the dam at least four or five times. Meanwhile, Nourshan Hamo, also from Kobani, called on the international community to intervene and stop the Turkish assaults.
Violations of international law
Syrians in the north have appealed to human rights organizations and the U.N. to halt these attacks, which they argue violate international conventions and constitute war crimes. Reports indicate deliberate targeting of villages, homes, civilian infrastructure, emergency response teams, journalists, and civilian gatherings.
On Jan. 22, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) voiced concern over the ongoing military operations near the Tishrin Dam. In a statement on X, MSF expressed alarm at the escalating violence in northern Syria, particularly in the areas of Manbij and Tishrin Dam, highlighting “attacks that have affected ambulances and resulted in fatal injuries to health workers.”
The AANES issued a statement earlier this week, calling for the deployment of an international force to safeguard the Tishrin Dam. It warned about the ongoing Turkish shelling of the dam, which poses a severe threat to the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.