On the Sixth anniversary of occupation: Serekaniye, Tal Abyad without their indigenous inhabitants

On October 9, 2019, the Turkish occupation state and its affiliated mercenaries from the so-called “Syrian National Army” launched a military assault on the cities of Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tal Abyad with the objective of occupying the area and destabilizing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

This report sheds light on the details of the Turkish assault, the violations committed supported by statistics and the living conditions of the displaced persons in refugee camps.

Before the Attack

Following the defeat of ISIS by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in coordination with the US-led International Coalition in their last stronghold in Baghouz on March 23, 2019, Turkey could no longer rely on ISIS as a pretext to destabilize the region. It shifted its narrative to claims of “protecting its national security” to justify a new wave of aggression, backed by international powers in deals that came at the expense of the region’s people.

As part of this strategy, Turkey intensified its threats and amassed forces along the border, especially as President Erdoğan’s popularity was declining due to multiple domestic crises.

In an attempt to defuse tensions, the SDF agreed on August 7, 2019, to a “security mechanism” that included joint US-Turkish patrols 5–9 km deep, withdrawal of SDF forces and heavy weapons, filling in trenches, and dismantling military checkpoints.

Despite these efforts, Turkey's real intention occupation became increasingly evident. On September 6, Turkey explicitly declared its intention to launch a military operation. In response, the people of North and East Syria set up human shields along the border.

However, then-US President Donald Trump made a deal with Erdoğan and ordered the withdrawal of US forces from the border areas, including Serekaniye, effectively greenlighting Turkey’s ground and air assault.

The Start of the Assault

The attack on Serekaniye and Tal Abyad began at 4:00 PM on October 9, 2019.

Asia Nawaf, one of the displaced from Serekaniye, described how she and six other families were forced to flee on top of a water tanker due to the intense shelling and airstrikes. “We saw smoke rising from the city and the industrial zone being bombed,” she said tearfully. “Leaving was incredibly difficult we left behind all our belongings and memories.”

Salman Dawoud, another displaced resident and eyewitness, recalled, “As the shelling began, all civilians had to flee their homes with nothing but what they could carry.” The bombardment occurred at the start of winter, and many were left exposed to the cold while watching their city being destroyed.

Turkey used warplanes, heavy artillery, and internationally banned weapons, including white phosphorus, during the assault. Six people, including a child named Mohammed, were documented to have suffered injuries from such weapons.

The Resistance

In response, the Syrian Democratic Forces mounted a fierce defense known as the “Resistance of Dignity.” Clashes continued for ten days.

During this period, a civilian convoy was targeted by Turkish forces, resulting in 11 deaths including journalists such as ANHA agency’s reporter Saad Ahmed and 80 injuries.

Under mounting pressure, President Trump sent his Vice President to negotiate a ceasefire with Turkey. A five-day truce was agreed upon, followed by an October 22 agreement between Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It called for joint Russian-Turkish patrols along the border and deployment of Syrian regime border guards after coordination with the SDF.

War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

The Turkish assault displaced approximately 300,000 civilians including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Syriacs, Chechens, and Yazidis and replaced them with families of Turkish-backed militants, Iraqis, Afghans, and Turkmen.

According to the Autonomous Administration, nearly 100,000 civilians were displaced from Tal Abyad and its countryside. About 6,031 currently reside in the Tal Abyad camp, established on November 22, 2019, in Tal al-Samen near Raqqa. Others are spread across Raqqa, Tabqa, and Kobani.

Roughly 200,000 civilians were displaced from Serekaniye and its countryside. Around 14,714 now reside in Washokani camp (opened in 2019), while another 14,073 live in the Serekaniye camp. The rest are distributed across the Jazira region.

The occupation also forcibly emptied 15 Yazidi villages, seized 65 Yazidi homes, destroyed 80 houses in Dawoudiyeh and Kherbet Jamou, and built military posts on their ruins. Yazidi graves were exhumed and desecrated.

Displaced persons face harsh humanitarian conditions. The UNHCR and other international agencies have yet to officially recognize the camps of Serekaniye and Tal Abyad, leaving them without essential services.

Camp co-chair Abdulrazzaq Mohammed said NGO support covers less than 10% of the residents' needs. Only three organizations provide bread, water, and food baskets, which have been reduced after Trump’s administration cut funding to aid groups.

He added that the camps have not been renovated in six years, despite the norm being 18 months. The tents are now worn out, and most have been patched by the displaced themselves.

Asia Nawaf described life in the camp as filled with pain and lost memories. Salman Dawoud noted that “the camp doesn’t meet all life needs,” but they still hope to return to Serekaniye.

Human Rights Violations

There have been 1,275 documented cases of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, field executions, and torture. Seventy-two civilians remain missing, and 20 were killed near the border between Serekaniye and Northern Kurdistan. The city and its countryside also witnessed 15 reported cases of rape, according to the Serekaniye IDP Committee.

Demographic and Cultural Change

Since the occupation, Turkey has sought to alter the cultural identity of Serekaniye and Tal Abyad. Turkish curricula are imposed in schools, and the Turkish language and currency are used officially.

Approximately 3,200 families have been resettled, while 87% of the indigenous population has been displaced. Only 44 Kurds remain in Serekaniye, according to the IDP committee.

Turkey-backed factions have seized 98% of Kurdish agricultural lands, 6,300 homes, and 1,900 commercial shops. Sixty-five villages have been emptied of residents, five partially bulldozed, and the village of Ain al-Hisan completely demolished and turned into a military base.

The violations have extended to drug cultivation in agricultural lands belonging to five villages in Serekaniye.

Both Serekaniye and Tal Abyad have suffered from rampant insecurity and lawlessness since the occupation. There have been 130 infighting incidents between Turkish-backed factions and 75 bombings.

These actions expose the falsehood of Turkey’s claims to support Syrian unity and stability. In reality, it occupies Serekaniye, Tal Abyad, Jarablus, al-Bab, Azaz, and Afrin and commits widespread violations in all of them.

ANHA