TEL TAMR, Syria (North Press) – Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish-backed armed opposition groups took control of the cities of Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad and their surrounding countrysides in October of 2019. Since this time, residents in the region have reported many human rights abuses, including theft, looting, assault, kidnapping and murder.
Although two ceasefire agreements were signed between Russia and Turkey, Turkish forces continue shelling populated areas north of Hasakah.
Opposition clashes
Residents from Sere Kaniye, who preferred to be unidentified, told North Press that opposition disputes and clashes that took place over looted items and influence have worsened.
Intense clashes took place on September 7 between two opposition groups in the countryside of Sere Kaniye, resulting in casualties and injuries.
Local sources confirmed to North Press on August 20 that clashes took place between the Hasakah Shield Brigade and a group from the Mowali clan that is affiliated with the Hamza Group in Sere Kaniye, causing three deaths and more than five injuries.
Theft
According to local testimonies, violations against civilians such as theft of property and looting of public facilities have increased.
Turkish–backed armed opposition groups stole submersible well pumps and generators in the countryside of Sere Kaniye on August 29.
On September 4, the Sultan Murad Brigade surrounded a house in the countryside of Sere Kaniye in order to arrest young people who opposed the opposition groups for stealing their humanitarian aid.
Residents tried to prevent them from harming the youths, but the opposition groups fired into the air, scaring them away. In the end, the residents demonstrated against the group and military police, demanding their departure.
Local press agencies confirmed that Turkish-backed opposition groups stole power lines in Sere Kaniye in order to sell minerals, copper, and aluminium in Turkish markets.
Additionally, on September 4 opposition groups kidnapped a civilian and his son from the northern Hasakah countryside, detaining them for unknown reasons, according to local sources from the village.
The next day, other opposition groups arrested five civilians in the countryside of Tel Tamr for allegedly dealing with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Bombing and shelling
Sere Kaniye has been witnessing security chaos since the Turkish invasion and occupation. During August, five explosions took place in the city and its countryside. Turkey and its affiliated opposition groups intensively shelled the villages of Aboush, Umm al-Kheyr, Tel Muhammad, and Zarkan town on September 5.
Earlier this week, Turkey shelled the countryside of both Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin (Zarkan), causing massive damage to the power network.
Fahed Ismaila, an administrator in the Power Directorate in Tel Tamr, told North Press that the damages “cut the electricity to over 28 villages between Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin towns.”
He added that maintenance teams are working hard to fix the damaged wires and restore power to the villages.