Turkey displaces civilians, disrupts security in Syria’s northeast: Shaddadi Council co-chair
SHADDADI, Syria (North Press) – Ala’a Omar, co-chair of Shaddadi Council, said on Monday that Turkey was trying to disrupt the security of northeast Syria through its attacks on the region, especially in Ain Issa, north of Raqqa.
Through these attacks against civilians, Turkey tries to displace people and evacuate the area, Omar said in a statement to North Press.
Ain Issa was shelled with artillery for six consecutive nights last week, the most violent of which was on October 21, when three people suffered the amputation of their limbs from the shelling.
He pointed out the international silence regarding the repeated attacks on the area by Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition groups.
“Turkey is working hard to list the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces as terrorist forces, while they defeated the biggest terrorist organization in the world [ISIS],” he added.
Turkish-backed armed opposition groups shelled Ain Issa on October 20, displacing the civilians and damaging their houses.
The opposition groups targeted mortar shells from the camp of the town that was evacuated after the Turkish invasion on north east Syria last year.
Dozens of shells were dropped on the outskirts of Ain Issa, and two unexploded shells landed among civilians’ houses inside the town, according to witnesses.
About five civilians were injured, including three who suffered amputations due to the Turkish shelling, medical sources told North Press.
On October 16, a 13-year-old boy died of severe injuries, including an amputated leg, that he sustained in artillery shelling by Turkish-backed groups.
The Shaddadi co-chair stressed the necessity of supporting the SDF “in order to counter any Turkish aggression on the area.”