“Euphrates Shield” areas and surroundings in May 2022 | Nearly 25 casualties in acts of violence… Ongoing explosions and infighting in light of security chaos

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 May’s prominent developments in these areas, which could be summarised in the following main points:

 

Human casualties

 

In May 2022, SOHR activists documented the death of five 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:

 

-Two civilians:

 

• The director of Al-Rayyan preschool was killed by an IED explosion in his car in Jarablus, north-east of Aleppo.

 

• An unidentified woman was found dead with gunshot wounds in the head on the road between Qabasin town and Barshaya village.

 

-Three combatants:

 

• An armed man was killed in family feuds between Slu and Hassan families in Soran town in northern Azaz countryside in Aleppo.

 

• A member of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah faction was killed in clashes with Kurdish forces on Marea frontline.

 

• A Turkish soldier died of the wounds he sustained by artillery shells fired from areas controlled by Kurdish and regime forces in northern Aleppo countryside on a Turkish armoured vehicle in Marea city.

 

SOHR also documented the injury of over 17 people in explosions, fights, and bombardment in “Euphrates Shield” area and its surroundings in May 2022.

 

 

Infightings and explosions

 

In May 2022, SOHR activists documented one infighting and four explosions in “Euphrates Shield” areas and its surroundings. Here are further details:

 

-Infightings

 

May 21: Violent clashes broke out between “Slu” and “Hassan” families in Soran city in the countryside of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

 

-Explosions

 

• May 1: A medium explosion was heard in Jarablus city due to the detonation of an IED in the car of the director of Al-Rayyan preschool who was a former member of Public Relations Agency of “Ahrar Al-Sham Movement,” which killed him.

 

• May 2: Three civilians, a man, his wife and another person who was with them, were injured by the explosion of an IED in their car near a military police checkpoint in Al-Ra’i city in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 18: A commander of Liwaa Jund Al-Islam was wounded due to the explosion of a grenade by mistake, which was in his possession in Azaz city in northern Aleppo countryside.

 

• May 24: A violent explosion rocked Al-Hamran village in Jarablus countryside, east of Aleppo, as explosives exploded in a “Saba” car, leaving a little girl and a woman injured.

 

 

Arrests and kidnappings

 

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

 

-Arbitrary arrests: Six cases.

 

• Five young and adult men were arrested for “violating social values and misusing social media.”

 

• A civilian was arrested by “Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah” faction in Al-Bab city after entering Al-Bab city via routes used for smuggling from regime-controlled Aleppo city.

 

-Kidnappings and abductions: One case

 

A young man was abducted by Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah faction in Saju city. The faction demanded ransom from his family for his release.

 

 

Assaults

 

Furthermore, SOHR activists documented an assault by Turkish-backed militiamen of the “National Army” when a civilian from Al-Amiyah village in Al-Bab city, who owns a motorcycle repair shop, was severely beaten with a metal object by a member of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” faction as the civilian demanded “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” member to give him his money, causing a head injury.

 

 

Demonstrations and protests against National Army commanders

 

Additionally, in May, SOHR activists documented demonstrations and protests against leaders of National Army faction in Al-Bab, where the demonstrators protested the release of a regime soldier by Military Police for a ransom of 1,500 USD.

 

Days later, “Military Police” arrested the soldier once again following the popular protests that took place in Al-Bab city, where the protesters demanded commanders of “National Army,” who are involved in the release of the regime soldier for a ransom, be held accountable.

 

According to Syrian Observatory activists, the people have set fires to tyres in front of the entrance to “Military Police” building and announced the closure of the “Military Police” directorate until further notice, demanding that leaders of the “Military Police” must be held accountable, especially since the regime soldier confessed that he committed crimes of killing civilians and raping women during his service with the Syrian regime forces.

 

The people accused the leaders of the “Military Police” of “being loyal and belonging to the Syrian regime, the Fourth Division and Al-Shabiha of the regime.”

 

Accordingly, the people declared the closure of the “Military Police” building until it complied with the fundamental of the Syrian Revolution and held accountable all those involved in the release of regime soldiers.

 

SOHR activists also reported seeing angry demonstrations by residents in Al-Bab city over the rape of a little girl displaced from Palmyra city in eastern Homs countryside by a person in Al-Bab city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. A large number of gunmen from Palmyra city gathered in front of the “military police” headquarters, threatening to escalate the situation, unless the criminal was held accountable.

 

According to Syrian Observatory activists, a restaurateur in Al-Bab city lured the little girl to an abandoned building near his restaurant and raped her on May 25. The man was caught in flagrante delicto. However, influential figures attempted to circulate false information, after receiving money, to change the facts and acquit the criminal, as they claimed that the little girl had been caught by the owner of the restaurant for robbery.

 

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.