SDF-held areas in November 2022 | 83 de*aths in acts of viol*ence…Turkish military escalation tops the events…20 attacks by IS*IS cells…nearly 13 infightings and cri*mes

Areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), (SDF-held areas) experienced in November 2022 scores of incidents of security disorder and violations against human rights. In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked all key developments in SDF-held areas in the past month.

 

 

Deaths in acts of violence 

 

SOHR documented the death of 81 people in November 2022 in light of the ongoing acts of violence in SDF-held areas. Here are further details of those deaths:

 

-24 civilians, including two little girls and three woman; they are as follows:

 

• Nine civilians, including two women, were killed in airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets.

 

• Five were killed by ISIS.

 

• Four were killed by the explosion of old ordnance.

 

• A woman was killed in a family fight.

 

• Four people, including two little girls, were murdered.

 

 

• One was killed in airstrikes by Turkish drones.

 

 

-45 combatants:

 

• 20 killed in airstrikes by Turkish drones.

 

• 16 killed in airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets.

 

• Seven killed by ISIS.

 

• One was killed in unknown circumstances.

 

• One killed in Turkish bombardment.

 

-Seven gunmen:

 

• Five were killed in family and tribal infightings.

 

• Two were killed in clashes with SDF.

 

-Six regime soldiers were killed in airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets.

 

-An ISIS commander was killed during a security operation by SDF and Coalition.

 

 

The most violent military escalation by Turkish forces in 2022

 

Turkish military operations, mainly ground bombardment, are documented in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration on a daily basis. On November 19 evening, Turkish forces started a large-scale military campaign on areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration in north and north-east Syria, as a response to the terrorist attack in Istanbul, where Ankara claimed that the Kurds in Syria were responsible for that attack. On that day, Turkish fighter jets and drones conducted a large number of airstrikes, while artillery pieces in Turkish territory started heavy bombardment, targeting positions in SDF-controlled areas.

 

Turkish aerial and ground attacks in November left 53 civilians and combatants dead, five combatants of whom were killed before the violent military escalation which started on November 19.

 

In November, Turkish drone executed 30 attacks on SDF-controlled areas: 27 attacks targeted different positions in Al-Hasakah, one on Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in Aleppo province and one on Al-Hasakah-Al-Raqqah-Deir Ezzor border triangle. The drone attacks targeted infrastructure, oil and gas institutions and military posts and vehicles, killing one civilian and 20 combatants and injuring 21 others.

 

In addition, Turkish fighter jets executed over 40 airstrikes, targeting vehicles, posts and different positions in Aleppo, Al-Hasakah and Al-Raqqah. These airstrikes left many dead and wounded. Here is a breakdown of fatalities due to November’s airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets:

 

-16 members of military formations operating in SDF-controlled areas:

 

• Five were killed in Jabal Qarrah Jokh area in Al-Malikiyah countryside (Dayrek) in Al-Hasakah province.

 

• Eight members of SDF-backed protection units responsible for guarding Al-Hawl camp: six were killed in airstrikes on their post and two were killed in airstrikes on another site.

 

• Two SDF fighters were killed in Zahr Al-Arab village in the western countryside of Al-Darbasiyah in Al-Hasakah province.

 

• An SDF fighter was killed in Abu Rasin countryside (Zarkan).

 

-Nine civilians were killed in Jabal Qarrah Jokh area in Al-Malikiyah countryside (Dayrek); they are as follows:

 

• One correspondent working for a press agency.

 

• A female political leader.

 

• Seven people: civilians working as guards in the targeted sites and members of the “Essential Protection Forces,” including a woman.

 

 

-Six regime soldiers:

 

• Four were killed in strikes on a post of regime border guards in Um Harmal village in Abu Rasin countryside in north-western Al-Hasakah.

 

• Two were killed in strikes on a military post in Qaz’ali village in Tel Abyad countryside in northern Al-Raqqah.

 

Moreover, Turkish fighter jets attacked an under-construction hospital in Jabal Mashtanour area and positions in Al-Hursh Al-Hokomi, the surrounding areas of Alishar village in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani), which resulted in the demolition of the hospital.

 

While on November 21, Turkish fighter jets executed airstrikes on Zur Magharah and Jabal Al-Shuyukh, to the west of Ain Al-Arab city (Kobani) in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, east of Euphrates river, where SDF and regime forces are stationed in several military posts.

 

Similarly, on November 23, Turkish fighter jets struck Kaniye Kurdan area where regime forces are stationed on the outskirts of Ain Al-Arab city (Kobani).

 

Beside the airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets and drones, tens of Syrian villages and towns near frontlines with areas controlled by Turkish forces and their proxy factions came under ground bombardment with hundreds of rockets and artillery shells fired by Turkish forces stationed in Turkish and Syrian territory. According to SOHR sources, the Turkish ground bombardment targeted positions in nearly 48 towns and villages controlled by the Autonomous Administration in north and north-east Syria, which caused heavy material losses and left a member of a military formation dead.

 

The targeted positions can be distributed regionally as follows:

 

• Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani): Eight villages: Sheyoukh Foqani, Zur Maghar, Jayshan, Kharabisan, Qarrah Mough, Kuran, Ashma and Salim.

 

• Manbij countryside: Seven villages: Tukhar, Awn Al-Dadat, Jabal Al-Sayyad, Kurheyouk, Al-Kawikli and Qarrat Waran.

 

• Tel Tamr and Aby Rasin countryside: 19 villages: Dada Abdal, Rebay’at, Tel Amir, Kesra, Al-Assadiyah, Al-Boby, Um Ishbah, Al-Khadrawi. Tel Al-Ward, Kherbet Sha’ir, Al-Dardarah, Abboush, Qabbour Al-Qarajinah, Um Al-Kaif, Kuzaliyah, Sheikh Ali, Tel Al-Laban, Tawilah and Um Al-Khair.

 

• Amuda countryside: Six villages: Al-Bahirah, Tel Hamdoun, Tel Al-Kaif, Shurak, Tel Hamdouni and Izz Al-Din Juli farm.

 

• Al-Qahtaniyah countryside: Four villages: Mahrkan, Rukan, Otalijah and an oil site in eastern Al-Qahtaniya.

 

• Al-Qamishli city and countryside: Four areas: the surrounding areas of Jarkin prison, which hosts ISIS members in Al-Qamishli city, the farms of the agricultural scientific research centre in Himu village, Haram Shikhu and Haram Rash.

 

 

Ongoing operations by ISIS cells met by large-scale security campaigns

 

ISIS continued its operations in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration, where it carried out several armed attacks and assassinations through gunfire, attacks with sharp tools and planting IEDs and landmines.

 

The Syrian Observatory documented over 20 operations, including armed attacks and explosions, carried out by ISIS cells in SDF-held areas in November 2022. According to SOHR statistics, these attacks left 13 people: five civilians, seven combatants and an ISIS commander, dead.

 

Meanwhile, Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the International Coalition, continued their large-scale security campaigns to curb the escalating activity by the organisation and its affiliated cells in SDF-held areas, particularly in Deir Ezzor, Al-Hasakah and Al-Raqqah.

 

According to SOHR activists, anti-ISIS campaigns in November 2022 led to the arrest of 30 people for “communicating with and belonging to ISIS.”

 

Moreover, military forces arrested nearly 28 other people in SDF-controlled areas in the past month, some for unknown reasons.

 

 

Escalating public protests

 

Also, in November, SOHR documented over four protests in SDF-controlled areas against the catastrophic living and educational situations, as well as poor services and frequent violations.

 

On November 13, dozens of people gathered at the checkpoint of Al-Maqbarah in Hawi Al-Hussan in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor in areas controlled by Syrian Democratic Forces, blocking roads with burning tyres, demanding improvement of living conditions and disclosure of the fate of those detained by SDF. It is worth noting that some SDF members demand a ransom of up to 3,000 USD from the detainees’ families in exchange for their release.

 

While on November 16 and 17, residents of Abo Hardob town in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside went out on protests against the decision of Deir Ezzor Civil Council regarding annexing Abo Hardob town to the Central Canton, demanding maintaining the town under the Eastern Canton’s administration.

 

 

Escalating security chaos: Scores of infightings and murder crimes

 

Observatory activists documented ten family and tribal infightings in November in SDF-controlled areas: seven in Deir Ezzor, two in Al-Hasakah and one in Al-Raqqah. These infightings left a woman and five gunmen dead. Here are further details:

 

• November 12: A fight broken out between Al-Ghadhban and Al-Kassar tribes at Al-Busayrah city market, east of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR, the fight occurred due to earlier disagreements between the two tribes, which evolved into the use of weapons. The fight left two people injured, including a woman, and led to the closure of some shops and stalls in the market, amid panic among people who called upon dignitaries and elders to put an end to the conflict.

 

• November 15: an infighting with light and medium weapons broke out between two families because of an earlier dispute over smuggling operations in the market in Al-Busayrah city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The fight left a man and his son dead and at least six other civilians injured.

 

• November 16: Tribal infighting broke out between a group of residents from Shanan village and another group from Dranj village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, after a group of a leader from Al-Narjes tribe blocked a young man and his mother from Al-Shanan town and opened fire on his car. The leader, who is known by his initials as A. N., also seized and damaged several vehicles belonging to residents of Al-Shanan village for “smuggling diesel to areas controlled by the Syrian regime via river crossings.” The evolved into clashes and cut off of roads.

 

• November 16: A civilian was killed in east Deir Ezzor countryside over a vendetta between two families in Abu Hamam town, east of Deir Ezzor.

 

• November 17: Armed clashes broke out between Al-Za’abi and Al-Dhawin families over an old vendetta between the two families in Al-Jerzi Al-Gharby town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

 

• November 20: A young man was killed and four others were injured due to indiscriminate gunfire following renewed clashes over retaliation between two families of Al-She’aytat tribe in Al-Muhaymida neighbourhood in Abu Hamam town, east of Deir Ezzor.

 

• November 21: Three people were injured in a quarrel between owners of car repair shops that evolved into armed fight in Sinalko roundabout in Tel Hajar neighbourhood in Al-Hasakah city. The Internal Security Forces “Asayish” intervened and cordoned off the area which witnessed these clashes.

 

• November 28: Three people of one tribe were injured in Al-Raqqah countryside following quarrels among cousins in Al-Sifsafa village in Al-Tabaqa countryside, west of Al-Raqqah.

 

• November 28: A civilian was shot dead in the head and another was severely injured following a dispute between two tribes over an earlier vendetta on the road to Al-Harma village in Al-Qahtaniyah town north eastern of Al-Hasakah.

 

• November 29: A family dispute erupted between two brothers of Al-Bakir Al-Rakiwat tribe in Al-Wadawda village in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor over a dispute on the possession of agricultural land. The dispute evolved to clashes with light and medium weapons. These clashes left the conflicting brothers’ sister dead and their brother injured.

 

Furthermore, SOHR activists documented three murder crimes in areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration in the past month, which left two little girls and two men dead. The circumstances of these crimes can be summarised as follows:

 

• November 1: A young man was killed by a drug abuser following a dispute between them for unknown reasons in Al-Kahrabaa neighbourhood in Al-Raqqah.

 

• November 10: A woman threw a grenade on a civilian near the river crossing in Al-Asharah city following a dispute over unknown reasons, where the grenade explosion killed the man.

 

• November 15: Two bodies were found with marks of stabs from a sharp tool in Al-Hawl camp’s sewer systems. According to SOHR sources, the bodies, who were found in the section of “Al-Muhajerat” (the migrant), were of two minor Egyptian girls who had gone missing.

 

Moreover, six incidents of clashes between military formations operating in SDF-controlled areas and gunmen involved in drug business and smuggling operations were documented in November; they are as follows:

 

• November 2: A civilian accused of “involving in drug dealing and smuggling” was killed in armed clashes between smugglers and members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) during a security campaign in Awn Al-Dadat village im northern Manbij in the eastern countryside of Aleppo targeting drug dealers.

 

• November 4: Clashes erupted between SDF members and smugglers in Hawayij Al-Bomas’a town in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor following disagreements over smuggling fuels.

 

• November 7: A group of residents from Al-Waheed village in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor attacked an SDF checkpoint, after a member of the checkpoint assaulted a man from the village while he was crossing through the checkpoint.

 

• November 9: Clashes erupted between SDF and local smugglers in Al-Busayrah, amid artillery fire on Al-Jisr checkpoint in the area.

 

• November 12: Members of an SDF patrol stormed the river crossing on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river, before clashes erupted between the patrol’s members and smugglers on the opposite bank near the heart hospital in Deir Ezzor city following disagreements over smuggling operations.

 

• November 17: Clashes erupted between SDF fighters and smugglers at Al-Shuhayl river crossing, which is supervised by SDF, in Al-Shuhayl town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor following disagreements over the mechanism of running the crossing.

 

 

Ongoing recruitment of children by “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah”

 

“Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” (the Revolutionary Youth) continues attracting and luring minors to serve in its military ranks, blatantly violating human rights and international resolutions that the Autonomous Administrations and Syria Democratic Forces have signed, while neither the residents’ demands to stop exploiting and recruiting children to military ranks nor the international charters managed to put an end to the recruitment of children by “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah.”

 

In early November, “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” kidnapped a 15-year-old boy in Sheikh Maqsoud area in Aleppo.

 

Separately, a group of people arrested two persons, including a child, on November 22 for unknown reasons. According to reliable SOHR sources, the two kidnapped people hail from Gharanij town in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, while their parents appealed to SDF to interfere before the situation is exacerbated.

 

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), call upon the authorities in SDF-held areas to fulfil people’s demands that call for the improvement of social and living conditions and not punish them for demanding their rights. We also call on the International Coalition and SDF to intensify their security campaigns against active and sleeping ISIS cells in various areas in east Euphrates to prevent the revival of ISIS which poses a threat to local, regional and international security.

 

SOHR calls upon the Autonomous Administration in north and east Syria, Syria Democratic Forces, and all relevant authorities to put an end to the ongoing violations by “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” (the Revolutionary Youth) in the east Euphrates region.