The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Peace Spring” areas in January 2023 | Four civilian fatalities by Turkish Jandaram…ongoing tribal and family infightings…deteriorating security situation

SOHR renews its call to the international community to protect civilians from systematic abuse and violations by Turkish-backed factions

Human rights violations have been escalating in areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxy factions in Al-Hasakah and Al-Raqqah, known as “Peace Spring” areas, since they were captured in October 2019. These forces’ aim is to accomplish specific economic and political objectives through exploiting the region’s wealth, resources and people.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked all developments and violations committed in “Peace Spring” areas in January 2023.

 

In January, six civilians and combatants were killed in “Peace Spring” areas, and here are further details:

 

-Five civilians:

 

  • Four civilians were shot dead by Turkish border guards (Jandarma) in Ras Al-Ain countryside (Sere Kaniye).

 

  • A Chechen-born man was murdered by his relative in Ras Al-Ain countryside (Sere Kaniye).

 

  • An former Iraqi ISIS commander known as “Abu Muslem Al-Iraqi” was shot dead by unknown gunmen on motorcycles in Ain Al-Hesan village in Ras Al-Ain countryside.

 

 

No explosions were documented by SOHR in “Peace Spring” areas in January. However, the area experienced two infightings in the past month, which several people injured, with the first taking place on January 13 when armed clashes erupted between two displaced families living in Ras Al-Ain city in north-western Al-Hasakah, due to disputes between them, where one of the families belong to factions of the “National Army”, amid extensive shooting among civilians and closure of all stores in the city, amid a state of tension among civilians in the city.

 

The second infighting took place a day later when armed clashes erupted between “Al-Qaraan” and “Al-Sayad” tribes in Ras Al-Ain city in north-western Al-Hasakah. According to SOHR sources, heavy machineguns were used during the clashes due to vendetta between the tribes, leaving three injuries among both tribes.

 

“Peace Spring” area also experienced scores of violations in January, where members of “Al-Hamza Division” stormed the house of a civilian in Tel Orkom village in Ras Al-Ain countryside in early January, because the house owner refused to pay royalties to the members of the Division. According to reliable SOHR sources, members of the Turkish-backed Al-Hamza Division violated the sanctity of the house and opened fire in the village and on residents of the house, injuring the son of the house owner severely, and he was taken to a hospital in Jilan Banr in Turkey. It is worth noting that the injured person works in selling cellular phones in Tel Orkom village in Ras Al-Ain countryside, in addition to working in agricultural field and he does not belong to any military side.

 

While on January 21, “Al-Sultan Murad” faction, which is affiliated to the “National Army”, took over a school in Al-Safh village southern of Ras Al-Ain within “Peace Spring” area, and turned it into a military base. According to reliable SOHR sources, members of the faction refused to leave the school to residents of the town to continue their children’s education, where the students were forced to receive lessons in small rooms that are not sufficient for their number, forcing them to continue education in the headquarters of the agricultural extension that is not designed for education. On the same context, residents of the town demanded the faction to leave the school and empty it from armed members, for their children to continue their education.

 

Also, on January 12, members of Al-Sultan Murad faction, supported by the Turkish-backed Military Police, stormed Al-Aamiriyah and Al-Ahras villages in south eastern Ras Al-Ain countryside within “Peace Spring” area in Al-Hasakah countryside. According to reliable SOHR sources, The area witnessed wide range arresting campaign by “Al-Sultan Murad” faction against several young men from the two villages for “dealing with SDF”, and they were taken to an unknown destination. Moreover, Al-Sultan Murad faction arrested over 12 young men after violating the sanctity of their houses, insulting their families and tying some women after they intercepted the faction, in addition to stealing their cellular phones, causing a state of anger in both villages and neighbouring villages.

 

 

Overall, this bleak picture remains in place, with the widespread corruption and tyranny of the Turkish-backed factions without any deterrent preventing them from committing further humanitarian crimes against Syrian civilians in the “Peace Spring” areas.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, therefore, renews its appeal to the international community not to abandon its responsibility and obligations and find a lasting solution to the tragedy of the region’s civilians that are plagued with systematic abuse and violations committed by lawless factions, including thefts, murders, looting, arrests and kidnappings.