Autonomous Administration-controlled areas in October | Nearly 60 killed and wounded in escalated violence, family and tribal infighting amid ongoing Turkish threats
Areas under the control of and the Autonomous Administration in north and north-east Syria region and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) experienced, in October 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 October.
Human losses due to ongoing ISIS operations, targets and crimes
In October 2021, ISIS continued its attacks in areas under the control of SDF, 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 11 operations in October 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 operations during October reached eight. The breakdown of fatalities was as follows: five civilians and three members of military formations under control of SDF.
Other deaths in different conditions
- Deputy to co-president of Deir Ezzor Civil Council was mistakenly murdered in a shooting by the SDF member in a drop-off operation in al-Soubhah village in east Deir Ezzor.
- Two members of SDF were killed in Turkish rocket fire on vicinity of Ain Essa neighborhood in north al-Raqqah countryside.
- Other five members were killed in air forces strikes by a Turkish drone targeting a car in Ain Al-Arab “Kubani” city in east Aleppo.
- Three killed in Turkish drone attack targeting a military car of the military formations under control of SDF near Siran Hall in Ain al-Arab “Kubani” in east Alepo countryside.
- ISIS cells members was killed by the group in an ambush was prepared for targeting SDF leader and members in al-Takihy town in east Deir Ezzor countryside. According to SOHR activists, the ambush failed and SDF’s members managed to kill an ISIS fighter and wounded another one. The dead man is from al-Rouz town and he is a nephew of ISIS leaders whose name is “H.A.” who was arrested by SDF with support of the International Coalition several months ago in al-Zour village in east Deir Ezzor countryside.
The Autonomous Administration areas in October also witnessed ten family and armedinfighting that killed 16 and wounded other 22. The breakdown of fatalities was as follow:
- Three civilians were killed in armed feud where heavy and medium machineguns were used in a family infighting between cousins in al-Dahlah town in east Deir Ezzor.
- One civilian was killed in armed infighting between armed men from al-Gahish and al-Khatouniyah tribes in al-Azizyah district in al-Hasakah city.
- Five civilians killed in machineguns clashes between al-Boughaz al-Deen and al-Khodir al-Hadadah tribes in al-Latouah district in Zoubyan town in Deir Ezzor countryside.
- One civilian was killed in family infighting in al-Kouz village under control of al-Ya’ariyah neighborhood in northeast al-Hasakah.
- Three persons were killed including a member of SDF in vendetta between two families that was renewed in al-Mowilah village in Deir Ezzor countryside.
- A civilian was shot dead by armed men in a vendetta with his cousins in Zoubian neighborhood in Deir Ezzor countryside
- A young man from al-Harigy village was killed in north Deir Ezzor village after kidaped from his house in vendetta crime.
- A civilian from Hageen town was shot dead on al-Rayanah road in east Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR activists, the armed men were brothers from al-Baharah town has chased and killed him because the murdered has killed their brother who was found killed in his car in the public road.
Backed by International Coalition Forces: SDF mass arrests, security campaigns continue
Syria Democratic Forces, backed by the International Coalition, continued frequent security campaigns in October in an attempt to put an end to the ISIS escalating operations in Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakah. According to SOHR statistics, 23 people were arrested during these campaigns, for “dealing and communicating with ISIS cells” as well as other accusations, in Zoubyan, al-Sobha, al-Shahee, and al-Busayrah in Deir Ezzor, al-Shaday and its countryside in al-Hasakah and other areas in north and east Syria, some of them were released while the others are still under arrest.
On October 25, SOHR activists have reported that an armed group composed of four members of ISIS have yesterday stormed a crossing for smuggling goods from the SDF-head areas towards the regime and the Iranian-controlled areas via Euphrates River in Huwigah al-Basrah City in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor province and has threated the workers in the smuggling crossing with murder if they allow the transfer of wheat or flour to the regime-held areas.
On October 27, SOHR activists have reported seeing International Coalition helicopters flying at a low altitude and firing flairs over al-Hasakah.
According to SOHR sources, Syria Democratic Forces, backed by International Coalition Forces, have transported prisoners from Ghuwayran prison in al-Hasakah to al-Shaddadi city’s prison, which was constructed with International Coalition support.
Local sources have reported that prisoners of ISIS carried out a rebellion in al-Sina’a prison this evening, while security forces were deployed in the perimeter of the prison.
On October 21, foreign relations department in the Autonomous Administration has handed over six children, and three women of ISIS member families to the delegation from the Kingdom of Sweden headed by Ambassador Fredrik Florn from the Department of Consular Affairs and Civil Law in Sweden.
The step took place during an official visit of Florn to the Autonomous Administration in al-Qamishly city.
On October 19, Syrian observatory sources say that an official delegation of the UK, headed by the UK Special Representative for Syria Jonathan Hargreaves, paid a visit, yesterday, to the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria in al-Qamishli city. The two sides had discussed the situation of the region, before three British children of ISIS families were handed over to the delegation under an official return document signed by the delegation at the Department of Foreign Relations’ headquarters.
On October 7, SOHR sources have reported that the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria handed over tens of foreign ISIS children and women, who were held in al-Rouj camp in al-Malikiyyah countryside (Dayrik) in al-Hasakah province, to representatives of the government of their countries. According to SOHR sources, eight German women and 23 children were handed over to representatives of Germany’s government, while three other Danish women and 14 children were handed over to representatives of Denmark’s government.
Kidnapping and recruiting children
Revolutionary Youth Union continues its arrogant policies without paying attention to the pledges that called for stopping its illegal actions based on the international and human rights laws that are concerned with kidnapping children in the Autonomous Areas to recruit them in ranks of the military forces in the SDF-held areas by exploiting the family clashes and practicing pressures on the children parents not to demand their return.
According to SOHR, the Revolutionary Youth still detains a 16-year-old child who is known by his initials as “F.J.” for nine months. The young boy is deported with his family from Aleppo to al-Qamishly but his family couldn’t retrieve him.
SOHR demands the military and political forces in the Autonomous Administration areas to curb the policies of the Revolutionary Youth that violate norms and human rights.
Recruiting children and involving in the armed conflicts is part of the human rights violations because children are the most vulnerable to any harm of the international and non-international phenomenon.
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977 in articles 2 and 3 have stipulated age of children participation in hostilities or recruitment in the fighting groups and forces at age less than fifteen years old.
In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.
Most of the world countries don’t recruit its citizens under 18-year-old deeming the children interest as a priority.
Meanwhile, member of the Revolutionary Youth have stormed a house in al-Derbasiyah City that belongs to the family of “R.A”, a female child who managed to escape from camps of the Revolutionary Youth.
During the raid, four members of the Revolutionary Youth including two women have seized the cellphones in the house to inspect it and communicate with the escaping child.
In early October, the Revolutionary Youth arrested “R.A.” father who is still in detention till today.
On October 3, SOHR activists have reported that Syria Democratic Forces have handed over 54 minors aged 15 to 17 years from different areas in the Syrian Jazeera to their families, after coordination between the SDF Relations Committee and the office of the “Protection of Children in Armed Conflict”. The children were handed over to their families after a press conference in the former Russian base in Amuda city in al-Hasakah countryside.
On October 31, Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that regime forces are conducting military manoeuvres with live ammunition in Tel Tamr district in northern al-Hasakah, with the participation of Russian fighter jets which were seen flying at a low altitude over the region, along with launching flares. SOHR activists have reported hearing loud explosions caused by the regime’s military manoeuvres which have been conducted in the area between Jabal Abd al-Aziz on the M4 highway and al-Aliyah area in Tel Tamr countryside in northern al-Hasakah, near the frontlines with Turkish-backed factions.
These developments coincide with the ongoing build-up on several frontlines in al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah countryside following the arrival of military reinforcement by Turkish forces and their proxy factions in “Peace Spring” areas and the recent reports of an imminent military operation, as well as the arrival of military reinforcement sent by regime forces and Syria Democratic Forces to the region.