Northern Syria: 187 Syrian Organizations Condemn Turkey’s Attacks and Call on the International Community to Intervene

Press Release:

Turkey intensified military activities in the northeastern parts and several areas in the western parts of Syria over the second half of 2022. However, the escalation climaxed on 20 November 2022, when the Turkish army launched the operation code-named “claw-sword.” With the new incursion, Turkey purportedly is responding to the terrorist attack on Taksim Street even though the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) denied involvement in the bombing.

Over the first two days of the operation, Turkish aircraft and drones bombarded several civilian objects, including a hospital equipped to offer medical services to children and a former COVID-19 care facility in Kobanî/Ayn al-Arab, in Aleppo’s countryside. Additionally, the airstrikes targeted the silos in the suburbs of al-Dirbasiyah, in al-Hasakah, and a power station in the suburbs of al-Malikiyah/Derik. The attacks killed several civilians, among them a journalist, and injured others.

Following the initial attacks, the Turkish military widened the scope of their airstrikes. Turkish air forces targeted new areas in the rural parts of al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor and even hit the Hol Camp. With the expansion, aerial bombing also became more hostile.

Turkish aircraft hit several vital facilities, including power stations and oil and gas resources. The attacks rendered several of the targeted facilities inoperable, straining the infrastructure already dilapidated by the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2011. Consequently, the attacks denied the local communities in the affected areas and millions of residents across other Syrian territories access to energy.

In parallel with the Turkish incursion, several missiles also landed in A’zaz, controlled by the Syrian armed opposition groups, on 22 November 2022. The attack killed and injured civilians.

Notably, grave human rights violations and war crimes marked all of Turkey’s incursions into Syria since 2016. During and after the Turkey-led operations, the military repeatedly horrified and initiated attacks on the villages, towns, and cities across northern Syria. Hostilities destabilized these areas, which today are home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their original places of residence in other parts of the country to the safety of its north.

The recent Turkish attacks renewed concerns over displacement. The hostilities have already forced several locals to escape their homes and threaten to displace thousands of others should they continue, and in case Turkey decides to start a ground incursion. Notably, prospective displacement waves threaten to over-stretch humanitarian response efforts that have already been exhausted by previous incursions. Considering this, the undersigned organizations condemn the military escalation in northeastern Syria and the Istanbul bombing and demand that Turkey end attacks on civilians and civilian objects immediately and demonstrate respect for international humanitarian law. Additionally, the undersigned organizations demand that:

1. The United Nations Security Council hold an emergency meeting regarding the recent military escalation and Turkish attacks, exert pressure to stop the hostilities, and protect civilians and infrastructure, implementing the provisions of international law and the powers of the Council under the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

2. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic issue a special briefing on the violations that accompanied the recent military attacks and publish a special report on human rights violations perpetrated across northern Syria by all parties in the conflict.

3. The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism intensify the collection of evidence so that it is comprehensive and attests to all parties in the conflict and the violations they perpetrated against civilians and civilian objects in northern Syria.

4. War crimes units in European countries, whose national laws warrant universal jurisdiction, expand structural investigations into international crimes in Syria, to include those committed across the northern parts of the country by all parties in the conflict.

5. UN agencies and humanitarian organizations intensify relief and humanitarian efforts so that there is an immediate response to the humanitarian needs resulting from the recent military escalation, especially since the attacks have been targeting civilian objects, vital facilities, and infrastructure.

Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:

1. Aataa for Relief and Development
2. Adel Center For Human Rights
3. Afrin Platform
4. Ajyal Organizati
5. Al Manarah Organization For Development
6. Al-Asil Association for Development
7. Albaghooz Hope for Development
8. Al-Diyar Society
9. Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
10. Allied for Peace Organization
11. Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
12. Amal Al-Furat Organisation
13. Anwar Algad Organaization
14. Arak of East Organization
15. ARAS Charity
16. Areej Organization for Social Development
17. Arjuan for Human Development
18. ASHNA for Development
19. Ashtar Development Organization
20. Ashti Peacebuilding Center
21. ASO Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization
22. Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
23. Ataa al-Baghouz Organization
24. Atyaf Development Association
25. Awda for DEVELOPMENT
26. Ayadi Moubsra Organization – SoS
27. Baladna Organization for Civil Society
28. Balsam Center for Health Education
29. Bedaya Organization
30. Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
31. Better Life Organization
32. Better Tomorrow Organization
33. Bridges of Love Organization
34. Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
35. Bzoug Organization for Development
36. R.O Organization
37. Center for Defense of Liberties
38. Center for research and Protection women’s rights in Syria
39. Civil Community Youth Organization
40. Cloud Organization
41. Community Solidarity Organaization
42. DAN for Relief and Development
43. Dari Organisation
44. Deirna Organization for Development
45. Demos
46. Development – Seed – Center
47. Development Without Borders Organization
48. Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
49. Documentation Violations Center in Northern Syria
50. DOZ
51. DURAT ALFURAT Organization
52. dyaalaml
53. Ebdaa organisation for develop ment
54. Edraak Organization for Development and Peace
55. Ella Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
56. Emaar Mansura
57. Enlil Center
58. Enma Aljazera Organization
59. ENMAA Organisation
60. Ensaf for Development
61. Euphrates Organization for Relief and Development
62. EWAS (Environment and Water Association)
63. Ezdina
64. M.T – Future Makers Team
65. Faidh Organisation for Development
66. Fajr Organisation
67. Fajr Organization
68. FDO – Organisation
69. Fikra Organization
70. For Them Organisation
71. FOR YOU Organization
72. Free Kurdish Women Organization
73. Friends Charity Association
74. Furatna for Development
75. Future Hands Organization
76. Ghaith Organisation for Development
77. Green Branch Organization
78. Green Tress
79. Green Women’s Association
80. Hadaf Organaization for Humanitarian
81. Hajen Technicians Organization
82. Haneen AlFurat
83. Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims
84. Hevy Organisation for Relief and Development
85. HLD – Association for Development
86. Holm Organization For Development
87. Hope Makers
88. Humanity Ray
89. Inaash Organization for Development
90. Intensive Care Association
91. IWAA Organization
92. Jasmine Association
93. Jian Charity Association
94. Jinar for for Development
95. Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights
96. Jsor Alamal Organization
97. Khutwa Association
98. Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (Rased)
99. Kurdish Feminist Voices
100. Leading Women Organization for Development and Health Care
101. Lights for development and construction
102. Malva for Arts and Culture
103. Manara Organization
104. Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
105. Media Academy Organization
106. Mine Action Office
107. Moltka Alnhren Organization
108. Nabd Team
109. Nasmet Amal Organisation
110. National Syrian Alliance
111. Nawat Organization
112. Nextep Organization
113. Nisaa Alamal Organization
114. Noun for development and support for women and children
115. Okaaz Organization
116. Organization for Feminism
117. Path Creation Organization
118. PCSC – Peace and Civil Society Center
119. Peace Bridges Organization for Development
120. Peace Humane Society
121. Peace Land
122. Peaceshe Leader Network
123. PÊL- Civil Waves
124. Peyam Association For Orphan Care
125. Purity Organization
126. Qadar Organization
127. QRD – Organization for Research and Development
128. Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
129. Reng Organization for development
130. Rescue and Relief Team
131. Restoration Hope Association
132. Roaamustkbl Organization
133. Roj Kar for relief and development
134. ROJ Organization for Mine Control (Mine Action).
135. Rojhilat for Relief and Development
136. Rose for Support and Empowerment
137. Sahem Organization for cooperation and development
138. Sama Organization
139. Sanabel Euphrates Organization for Development
140. Sara organization to combat violence against women
141. Sawaed Organization for Development
142. SCSD – Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue
143. SEl Organization for Development and Empowerment
144. Shabab Oxygen
145. Shams Al Ghad
146. Shams organisation
147. Shaqayiq Al Khayr
148. SHAR for Development
149. Share for Community Development
150. Shawshaka Association for Women
151. Shilan Association for Relife and Development
152. Shurooq Organisation Development
153. Silav Center For Civic activities
154. SMART
155. Sphere Development Organization
156. Stability Support Centre
157. Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
158. Syria foundation sustainable development
159. Syria Help Organization
160. Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
161. Syrian Cancer Society
162. Syrian Center for Cevelopment
163. Syrian House of Renaissance Association
164. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
165. Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
166. Taa marbouta
167. TARA Organization
168. Tayif Humanitarian Organization
169. TEVIN
170. The Four Seasons Organization
171. The Kurdish Cultural Association in Denmark
172. Together for a Bettar Future
173. Together for Algarnya
174. Together for Dair Ezzour
175. Vision
176. Weqaya Association
177. Wesal Organisation
178. Wheat & Olive Platform
179. Wheat Olive Platform
180. Women for Peace
181. Youth for Change
182. Youth Optimistic
183. Zakon Organization
184. zameen for development and peacebuilding
185. Zameen Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
186. ZIRAK Organization for Development
187. Zorna Development