The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Euphrates Shield” areas and surroundings in April 2022 | Nearly 70 casualties in acts of violence and 23 explosions and infightings

SOHR renews its appeals to the international community to protect civilians in “Euphrates Shield” areas from chaos, insecurity and violations of Turkish-backed factions

Since Turkish forces and their proxy factions captured several areas in Aleppo after a military operation known as “Euphrates Shield”, humanitarian crises have been emerging and worsening gradually, with violations, attacks and explosions occurring almost daily. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked April’s prominent developments in these areas, which could be summarised in the following main points:

Human casualties

In April 2022, SOHR activists documented the death of 25 people in areas under the control of Turkish forces and factions operating under the banner of “Euphrates Shield” operations room in northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo. The fatalities’ breakdown is as follows:

Three civilians:

  • A displaced man from Aleppo city was killed in gunfight between displaced people from Homs and residents from Jarabulus.

  • A civilian was killed by an IED explosion in his car in Al-Bab city.

  • A woman was shot dead by her husband, a member of the “National Army,” in Azaz city.

17 combatants:

  • Three members of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” faction were killed in factional infighting in Awlan village in Al-Bab countryside.

  • Eight members of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” were killed in an armed attack on a checkpoint in Azaz city.

  • A member of the “Liberation and Construction Movement” was killed in a rocket attack carried out by Afrin Liberation Forces on Jarabulus city.

  • A member of Al-Amshat faction was shot dead by Ahrar Al-Sham faction in Jarabulus city.

  • A “National Army” member was killed in a car-bomb explosion near Al-Ra’i checkpoint.

  • A member of Al-Waqas Brigade was shot dead by a Kurdish sniper on Al-Tuways frontline.

  • A member of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah was shot dead by gunmen in Azaz city.

  • A military police officer was shot dead by Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah members in Jarabulus city.

  • Three Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack waged by Kurdish forces on a Turkish armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Marea city.

SOHR also documented the injury of over 44 people in explosions, fights, and bombardment in “Euphrates Shield” area and its surroundings in April.

Armed attacks and Infightings

“Euphrates Shield” areas experienced 16 infightings and armed attacks in April 2022. Here are further details:

  • April 1: A displaced man from Aleppo died of wounds he sustained in exchange of fire between a displaced person from Homs and people from Jarablus city, in a fight between the two parties that evolved to gunfire.

  • April 1: Violent clashes with heavy and medium machineguns broke out between Ahrar Al-Sham faction and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah faction in Awlan village in Al-Bab countryside, east of Aleppo. The clashes erupted following a decision issued by the Third Corps commander to dismiss the leader of Ahrar Al-Sham faction known by his initials as M. R. and appoint another commander known by his initials as S. A. However, Ahrar Al-Sham leader refused to comply with the dismissal decision.

  • April 1: Clashes between “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” and Ahrar Al-Sham left three members of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” dead, and five other members injured in Awlan village in Al-Bab countryside, east of Aleppo.

  • April 3: Gunmen from Al-Ula village in the countryside of Akhtarin opened fire on the Qubtan village’s elder and another man in Azaz countryside. The village’s elder sustained various injuries, while the civilian received gunshots in his leg. The two men were taken to the hospital.

  • April 6: Unidentified gunmen carried out an attack on a Turkish-backed Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah checkpoint on Sajo road between Azaz and Bab Al-Salama border crossing with Turkey, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, where exchange of fire took place between Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah members stationed at a checkpoint and the assailants, leaving at least eight members of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah, including a commander, dead.

  • April 6: Violent clashes erupted between gunmen from Homs city and Liwaa Al-Shamal faction in Jarabulus city over video footage posted on social media showing a child of a member of Liwaa Al-Shamal faction assaulting a displaced child from Homs.

  • April 9: Fierce clashes with machine guns erupted between residents from Al-Mawali tribe in Ihtimalat town and the 51st Division operating under the banner of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah at the 51st Division checkpoint on the outskirts of Ihtimalat town in the countryside of Azaz, north of Aleppo. The clashes were triggered when members of the 51st Division checkpoint opened fire on civilians. These clashes left two civilians injured, one seriously.

  • April 10: A little girl was critically injured by indiscriminate gunfire in fighting and shooting between two families in Azaz city in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

  • April 11: A man from Mawali tribe was injured in armed clashes between “civil police” and “Al-Hamza Division” in Al-Ghandourah town in Jarablus countryside, east of Aleppo.

  • April 17: Clashes with machine guns erupted between people from Nyarah village in Azaz countryside and “National Army” members following disagreements and altercation between “National Army” members and a young man from Nyarah village.

  • April 18: Several civilians were injured in exchange of fire between “military police” personnel and “Ahrar Al-Sham” members in Al-Bab city centre, east of Aleppo, due to harassment of women by Ahrar Al-Sham members in a market in Al-Bab city.

  • April 18: Jaysh Al-Sharqiyyah militiamen in a car, “Santa Fe” make, opened fire on a civil police patrol in Al-Nouftyah street in Al-Bab city centre, injuring a woman, a man and two members of civil police. Jaysh Al-Sharqiyyah fighters waged this attack over the arrest of a member of the factions by military police.

  • April 21: A member of Al-Amshat faction was killed and another was injured after being shot by Ahrar Al-Sham faction in Jarabulus city centre in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, following disagreements between members of the two factions.

  • April 21: A Turkish-backed “military police” member was shot dead by Ahrar Al-Sharqiyyah members in Jarabulus city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo for unknown reasons.

  • April 25: Violent clashes erupted between gunmen from Deir Ezzor city and military police for unknown reasons.

Explosions

In April, SOHR activists documented five explosions that occurred in “Euphrates Shield” areas and its surroundings; they are as follows:

  • April 9: A car-bomb exploded near Al-Ra’i checkpoint at the entrance to Al-Bab city, killing a “National Army” member and injuring four civilians.

  • April 18: An IED exploded in the car of the head of the Turkish-funded Turkmen organisation of “Ahfad Al-Qarh Kaji” in Qabasin city in Al-Bab countryside, killing him instantly.

  • April 22: Three members of Al-Sultan Murad were injured by unknown explosion in a military vehicle transporting food in Tel Al-Hawa village in Al-Ra’i countryside.

  • April 22: An IED exploded in a car in Al-Bab city, killing the owner of the car.

  • April 24: An IED planted in a dumpster exploded in Al-Bab city centre, causing material damage only.

Arrests and kidnappings

Also, in April, SOHR documented the arbitrary arrest and kidnapping of ten people in “Euphrates Shield” area and its surroundings. They are distributed as follows:

-Arbitrary arrests: Seven people

  • Four young men entering from regime-held areas were arbitrarily arrested by Jaysh Al-Sharqiyyah faction in Al-Bab countryside. The faction asked the detainees’ families to pay ransoms for their release.

  • Three civilians were arrested in Al-Bab, Azaz and Suran cities for various charges, including criticising Turkish policy.

-Kidnappings and abductions: Three people

  • First incident: A member close to Al-Hamza Division abducted a child, brutally tortured him, filmed a video and sent it to the child’s relatives, threatening to kill the child if his family filed a complaint against him.

  • Second incidnet: Gunmen abducted a young man in the area between Jarabulus and Al-Bab city, while he was returning from his workplace at a jewellery store in Jarabulus city.

  • Third incident: A young Kurdish woman from Raju district was abducted by gunmen while she was on her way to Azaz to enter Turkish territory via routes used for smuggling.

Assaults

Furthermore, SOHR activists documented two assaults by Turkish-backed militiamen of the “National Army.”

  • April 9: Members of military police severely beat a civilian from Suran Azaz village for criticising Turkish policy in the area, before arresting him and taking him to their headquarters in Azaz.

  • April 12: An armed group of Asifat Al-Shamal faction severely beat a young man from Azaz city with rifle butts, then arrested him. The motive for the assault remained unknown.

It seems that violations in “Euphrates Shield” area will not stop as long as Turkish forces and their proxies keep breaching all international laws and charters, while no party or international or regional player is exhibiting any willingness to put an end to these “grave” violations, despite SOHR repeated warnings about the dreadful humanitarian situation in the region.