Manbij under Turkish Occupation: City drowning in crime, fear

Since the occupation of the city on December 8, 2024, the people of Manbij have been living in a state of terror due to continuous crimes and abuses committed by Turkish-backed mercenaries under the direct supervision of Turkish intelligence, turning the city into a zone of lawlessness and a fertile ground for organized crime.

In the early days of the occupation, mercenaries from the Hamzat and Amshat factions looted the municipal garage, stealing vehicles including H1 cars, Mitsubishi and Mercedes tankers, dump trucks, and firefighting equipment. The looting extended to medical institutions, including the Raabta Hospital and Euphrates (National) Hospital, where dialysis and MRI machines worth $400,000 were stolen, along with ambulances and power generators.

Al-Matahin Hospital was completely stripped, including 15 ambulances that were transported to al-Rai town for sale, while 6,000 tons of wheat stored in city silos were also seized and sold.

The violations escalated beyond theft. On December 23, 2024, a member of the Amshat faction sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl, sparking clashes with local tribes. Other crimes followed, including killings, kidnappings, and armed attacks on villages resisting looting.

The so-called “Syrian Interim Government” claimed on January 26, 2025, to have entered Manbij and established security centers—police, criminal, and general security—alongside an intelligence branch directly operated by Turkish intelligence. In reality, the city remains under Turkish occupation and mercenary control.

The Turkish intelligence apparatus manages the security compound, including detention facilities where prisoners are subjected to torture, electric shocks, and extortion. Many detainees are held without trial for up to 10 years, with their fate concealed from their families.

Several explosions have struck Manbij since the occupation, the deadliest on February 3, 2025, killing 25 female workers near the Mills Roundabout. Reports suggest the bombing resulted from an internal dispute among mercenary factions, possibly known to Turkish intelligence.

Despite the presence of nominal security bodies, corruption and bribes dominate. Complaints filed by citizens are routinely dismissed or suppressed under threats. In rural areas, “security centers” have become tools of repression and extortion, confiscating property and assaulting residents.

Manbij’s Martyrs’ Cemetery has suffered four attacks since the occupation, the latest targeting its flooring, wall, and main gate—part of a systematic attempt to erase the symbolic value of the martyrs.

Meanwhile, the drug trade and arms sales have flourished under occupation. A Kalashnikov rifle now sells for about $300, and narcotics are openly traded with the complicity of Turkish-backed factions.

Amid this grim reality, daily life in Manbij has nearly come to a halt. Residents only venture out for necessities, and streets empty after dark due to fear of robbery, abduction, and violence.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recently documented cases of armed threats against shopkeepers and the detonation of sound grenades in residential neighborhoods, reflecting the deepening security chaos imposed on the city.

a.k

ANHA