Turkish Drone Strikes Kill Eight Civilians in Northern Syria
By Kardo Roj
AIN ISSA, Syria (North Press) – Eight civilians, all from the same family, were killed on Tuesday in a Turkish drone strike on the village of Safiya in the countryside of Ain Issa, northern Syria.
Local sources confirmed the deaths, naming the victims: Khalil Suleiman, Wadah Suleiman, Mohammed Al-Abo, Abdul Karim Al-Abo, Dalal Suleiman, Nadia Suleiman, and two children, Jassem Suleiman and Hossam Suleiman.
The attack targeted the village with no apparent military presence, leading to widespread outrage and fears of escalating violence.
Rising Civilian Toll
This comes a day after the Synergy Association for Victims reported that 16 civilians, including nine children, were killed in Turkish airstrikes across northern and eastern Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Among those casualties were 12 civilians, six of them children, who lost their lives in a drone strike on al-Mastariha village in Ain Issa on Sunday. The assault left several others injured, marking a sharp escalation in Turkish military activity in the region.
Local Reactions
Witnesses described scenes of devastation in Safiya village, where debris and the remains of civilian homes testified to the indiscriminate nature of the attack. “They were just families living their lives. Now, they’re gone,” a local resident told North Press, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
The ongoing strikes have forced many families to flee, exacerbating the region’s humanitarian crisis.
Broader Context
Turkish forces and their allied factions have intensified their operations in northern Syria, particularly following Assad’s ousting. Ankara justifies its actions as targeting groups it deems terrorist threats, including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
However, human rights organizations and local activists accuse Turkey of indiscriminate attacks that disproportionately affect civilians.
The repeated strikes in and around Ain Issa, a strategic town in northern Raqqa, underscore Turkey’s strategic aims to expand its influence in the region.
International Outcry
The escalating violence has drawn condemnation from rights groups. A statement from Synergy Association for Victims called for urgent international intervention to halt Turkish attacks and ensure civilian protection.
“These attacks highlight systematic violence against vulnerable groups, pushing more families toward displacement and deepening the humanitarian crisis,” the organization said in its latest report.
The association documented these incidents with photos and videos, stored to support future efforts toward accountability and justice in Syria.
Urgent Calls for Action
As tensions rise in post-Assad Syria, the international community faces mounting pressure to address Turkish and other foreign military actions. Humanitarian organizations warn that continued inaction could lead to further loss of life and destabilize the already fragile region.
Observers argue that resolving these conflicts requires a multi-pronged approach, including humanitarian aid, political dialogue, and accountability mechanisms to address the grievances of affected communities.