Rights group warns of crisis in north Syria amid Turkish strikes
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – A human rights organization in Kobani, northern Syria, issued on Tuesday a statement warning of the ongoing military operations near the Tishrin Dam, highlighting the severe risks to the dam and the lives of residents in the surrounding areas.
The Euphrates Human Rights Organization reported that Turkish forces carried out a heavy airstrike on the village of Masrab, near the town of Sirrin, south of Kobani.
The attack claimed the lives of civilian Ismail Hussein Mustafa and his two young daughters, while five of his other children were injured.
The statement condemned the deliberate targeting of villages, civilian homes, vital infrastructure, emergency response teams, journalists, and gatherings of civilians.
“For over a month, Turkish attacks and threats have persisted, aiming to destabilize the region through direct political and military support,” the organization noted.
The ongoing assaults have forced residents to flee their homes, exacerbating their suffering in harsh winter conditions.
The organization highlighted that Turkish forces continue to employ heavy weaponry, warplanes, and drones in attacks on southern and western villages near Kobani, the Qaraqozaq Bridge, and the Tishrin Dam.
These strikes have resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians, including women and children, and have caused extensive damage to the Tishrin Dam.
This damage poses a significant risk of a humanitarian catastrophe, threatening the lives of millions, according to the statement.
The statement revealed that the frequent attacks on the Tishrin Dam have caused it to cease operations entirely, depriving surrounding areas of essential services.
The bombing campaign has also targeted villages in Manbij, Kobani, and their outskirts, compounding the hardships faced by local populations.
The Euphrates Human Rights Organization described the actions of the Turkish military and the affiliated armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), as tantamount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, constituting a flagrant violation of international conventions and treaties.