SDF-controlled areas in August 2021 | ISIS cells carry out nearly 20 attacks, while over 60 people arrested in security campaigns
Areas under the control of Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) experienced, in August 2021, scores of incidents of security disorder and violations against human rights. In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) have monitored and tracked all key developments in SDF-held areas in the previous month.
Bombardment, crimes and ISIS attacks leave more casualties
In August 2021, ISIS continued its attacks in areas under the control of SDF and the Autonomous Administration in north and north-east Syria region, as ISIS cells carried out several attacks and committed assassinations through various ways, including shooting, using sharp tools and planting IEDs and landmines throughout SDF-held areas. On the other hand SDF launched periodical security campaigns, with Coalition support, targeting ISIS cells and individuals accused of “dealing with these cells”. However, these campaigns remained timid and could not put an end to ISIS escalating operations in the region.
SOHR activists documented over 18 attacks in August carried out by ISIS cells in SDF-held areas in Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah, Aleppo and al-Raqqah, including armed attacks and explosions. According to SOHR statistics, the number of people killed in these attacks during August reached 12. The breakdown of fatalities was as follows: six civilians, including a woman and a child and six members of SDF, Asayish Forces and the Self-Defence forces.
On August 4, Turkish forces and their proxies fired several rockets on al-Safawiyah village in Ain Issa countryside in northern al-Raqqah, killing four persons of the same family, a man and three sibling children. The rocket fire also left other people of the same family injured, including a woman and her daughter. It is worth noting that the al-Safawiyah village is located in the eastern part of al-Sharkrak at the M4 highway.
While on August 17, a woman and a little girl were killed and 12 other civilians were injured due to Turkish rocket fire on Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin in al-Hasakah province.
Moreover, an Iranian commander of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), died affected by the injuries he sustained with his escort in the explosion in a military vehicle on August 19 near Ali Fru junction on the road between al-Qamishli and Amuda in the western countryside of al-Qamishli. According to SOHR sources, the explosion was caused by an attack by a Turkish drone.
Also, SOHR activists documented the death of a civilian from al-Qamishly city, after being tortured brutally by Turkish Jandarma and dumped on the Turkey-Syria border between al-Qamishly and al-Qahtanyah cities. The young man was found on August 29 and his health condition was serious. The man was taken to a hospital in al-Qamishly city, but he died on the following day affected by his injuries.
On August 30, Ain al-Arab city (Kobani) experienced a heinous crime, as unknown gunmen killed a man and his wife with a knife in their house in Boutan neighbourhood in the east of Kobani city, east of Aleppo. Also, the victim’s eight-year-old son sustained severe injuries after being stabbed for several times and he was taken to a hospitals in Manbij. According to SOHR sources, the murdered man owned a currency exchange shop in Kobani city.
On the other hand, Syria Democratic Forces, backed by the International Coalition, launched frequent security campaigns in April in an attempt to put an end to the ISIS escalating operations in Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakah. According to SOHR statistics, 63 people, including ISIS commanders, were arrested during these campaigns, for “belonging to and communicating with ISIS cells” as well as other accusations, in Abu Khashab, Muhaymidah, al-Sha’fa, al-Izbah, Theban, al-Shuhayl, al-Baghouz in Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah city, al-Shaddadi, Tel al-Jayer in al-Shaddadi countryside in al-Hasakah province and other towns and villages in north and east Syria. It is worth noting that some of these people were released, while the others are still in the SDF custody.
On August 3, SOHR activists have reported that drinking water has reached the southern neighborhoods of al-Hasakah city, after four days of resuming work at Allouk station which is located in areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxies.
This development came after the station had been partially out of work for nearly 40 days, while pumping of water had been suspended completely for 25 days.
While on July 30, SOHR activists monitored that drinking water was being pumped from Allouk station in “Peace Spring” areas, after the maintenance technicians accompanied by the Russians headed to the station.
According to SOHR reliable sources, the technicians managed to prepare nearly ten wells and started pumping drinking water to Tel Tamr and Al-Hasakah city.
It was expected that the drinking water would reach Tel Tamr and Al-Hasakah city by the following Saturday.