HRW reports Turkish occupation's war crimes in NE Syria

Human Rights Watch reported that a drone strike launched by the Turkish occupation and the so-called "Syrian National Army" targeted an ambulance belonging to the Kurdish Red Crescent on January 18, 2025, in northern Syria, which is considered an "alleged war crime."

The report stated that the attack hit an ambulance that was transporting a wounded civilian girl who had been injured in an earlier drone strike on the same day, which targeted protesters near the Tishrin Dam. The attacks that day reportedly killed six civilians, including a well-known Kurdish actor, and injured around 16 others.

In a report published on January 30, Human Rights Watch stated that at least four attacks carried out by the "Turkish alliance and the Syrian National Army" during January targeted protesters at the dam to deter attacks, resulting in the deaths of 20 people and injuries to 120 others.

A senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch stated that the "Syrian National Army and Turkish forces" have displayed a clear and concerning pattern of unlawful attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Hiba Zayadin added: "Both parties appear to celebrate these attacks."

She continued: "It is unlikely that the shelling of an ambulance carrying injured civilians on an open road was an accident. This appears to be a war crime, and Turkey and the Syrian National Army must be held accountable."

The human rights organization stated that it had verified videos of the attack on the protest near the dam, which occurred between 1:00 and 2:00 PM, along with subsequent events. It noted that it was unable to identify any visible military targets or weapons in the immediate vicinity of the protest based on three verified videos and witness testimonies, suggesting that Turkey deliberately targeted the protesters at the dam.

Additionally, the organization quoted witnesses who participated in the protest and were subjected to the bombing as saying: "We went to the Tishrin Dam peacefully to stand against the Turkish aggression and its affiliated factions, to protect our land, and to demand an end to the targeting of water, electricity, and infrastructure."

They added: "The scene was horrifying and indescribable. There was no prior warning before the bombing. The attack was extremely brutal and directly targeted civilians twice in a row."

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch warned of the risks of the dam collapsing due to attacks by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries, noting that the dam has been out of service since December 10, 2024, due to damage sustained during clashes. As a result, approximately 413,000 people in the Manbij and Kobani areas have been deprived of water and electricity, according to the organization's report.

The International Committee of the Red Cross previously warned that if the dam were damaged, the humanitarian consequences and the destruction caused by flooding could be catastrophic and cause severe environmental damage.

Human Rights Watch concluded its report by stating that Turkey and its mercenaries have a poor human rights record in the areas they occupy in Syria.

A-H

ANHA