HRW accuses Turkey, SNA of “apparent” war crimes near Tishrin Dam
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Thursday that Turkey and affiliated armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), have committed war crimes in the vicinity of the Tishrin Dam in northern Syria.
The HRW said a Turkish drone strike hit an ambulance belonging to the Kurdish Red Crescent on Jan. 18, describing the attack as an “apparent war crime.”
Hiba Zayadin, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, “The SNA and Turkish forces have demonstrated a clear and troubling pattern of unlawful attacks against civilians and civilian objects and even appear to be celebrating them.”
She further stressed that “Türkiye, as the SNA’s main backer, has an obligation to rein in the SNA’s abusive behavior or risk complicity in their crimes.”
The organization highlighted that the Tishrin Dam has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between the “Türkiye-SNA coalition” and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) since December.
As a result of the fighting, the dam has been inoperative since Dec. 10, 2024, depriving approximately 413,000 people in Manbij and Kobani of water and electricity.
HRW emphasized that under international humanitarian law (IHL), warring parties are obligated to protect the wounded and ensure their access to medical care.
It reiterated that ambulances and medical facilities are strictly protected under the laws of war and must never be targeted, regardless of whether they provide care to enemy combatants. Likewise, dams and critical infrastructure are afforded special protections due to the potential for catastrophic civilian harm.