Executive Summary:
This annual report presents the total toll of Turkish attacks on areas in Northeast Syria during 2024, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian suffering and the ensuing losses. The report documents detail of the violations through precise data and field testimonies, analyzing patterns of targeting civilians, infrastructure, and critical facilities. Moreover, it addresses the double-tap strikes that hit the same location twice in succession, and includes vivid testimonies of journalists being targeted while covering the events.
Turkish assaults against Northeast Syria escalated significantly in 2024, with drones and warplanes carrying out coordinated attacks that deliberately targeted infrastructure and civilian objects. Furthermore, Turkish forces and factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) engaged in heavy artillery and rocket shelling, causing substantial loss of life and widespread damage to both private and public property.
Over 2024, Turkish forces launched no less than 638 attacks on areas in northeast Syria, killing 83 civilians, including 14 children and 20 women, and injuring further 173, including 60 children and 26 women. The attacks also deliberately destroyed scores of critical facilities, among them health centers, power transfer stations, and oil and gas fields, denying the residents from electricity, water and gas for prolonged periods.
The aerial bombardment was the deadliest, with 221 airstrikes launched, killing 44 civilians, including 11 women and three children, and injuring 92 others, including nine women and 15 children. In contrast, the number of aerial and rocket shelling incidents was higher, with 416 cases recorded. These shelling attacks claimed the lives of 39 civilians, including nine women and 11 children, and left 81 others injured, among them 17 women and 45 children.
Turkish forces employed the “double-tap strikes” tactic, targeting the same location twice in succession, thereby doubling both human casualties and material damage. This was evident on October 24 when the Awda Oil Field, located in the countryside of Terbeh Sbiyeh/al-Qahtaniyah was hit a second time while media teams were on site documenting the damage from the first strike, despite wearing press identification badges.
On October 24, 2024, three media teams from regional and local outlets—including reporters, photographers, and field coordinators—were directly targeted by a Turkish drone while covering an attack on the Awda Oil Field in the countryside of al-Qahtaniyah/Terbeh Sbiyeh, despite wearing clear press identification. A similar incident occurred at the power conversion station in Amuda, where a media team from a local channel was attacked while documenting the shelling of the station. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
On December 19, 2024, journalists Jihan Belki and Nazim Dashdam were killed when their vehicle was directly targeted by a Turkish drone. The attack was described by The Women Press Freedom Organization as a war crime entailing an independent investigation. In a statement, the organization reported that the two journalists were documenting the attacks on “Tishreen Dam” when their vehicle was directly struck by a Turkish drone. The vehicle’s driver was also injured in the attack.
In its attacks on Northeast Syria, Turkish forces did not adhere to the International Humanitarian Law (IHL)’s principles. These attacks caused excessive loss of civilian lives, injured dozens, and inflicted extensive damages to civilian objects. The Turkish attacks have had a disastrous impact on civilians’ lives in the areas that host more than one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), exacerbating the already existing humanitarian crisis.
Under the IHL “Attacking, destroying, removing, or rendering useless objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population is prohibited.” By directly targeting, and deliberately demolishing, power stations, oil and gas installations, health centers, and other civilian facilities in Northeast Syria, Turkey is violating its obligations under the IHL and the International Human Rights Law (IHRL), and its actions amount to war crimes.
Any Syrian government- current or the future- assumes a clear moral and legal responsibility to condemn these serious violations, and take effective measures to protect its citizens from such attacks. Protecting civilians and ensuring their security and safety is a fundamental duty of any government, which must take all possible steps to halt this escalating humanitarian tragedy.
This includes international efforts to denounce these attacks, and demand accountability for perpetrators, along with strengthening local measures to protect infrastructure, and ensuring that affected population get access to essential services. Defending the citizens’ rights is the cornerstone of any state that seeks achieving justice and building a stable and safe future for its people.
Introduction:
In 2024, Turkish bombardment against areas in Northeast Syria heightened and included violent attacks with war planes and drones, as well as artillery and rocket shelling. These assaults targeted most cities along the border with Turkey, in addition to strikes on Tall Rifaat and al-Shahba region in Northern Aleppo.
The Turkish escalation became evident since October 2023, when the Turkish government officially declared that its operations would target and destroy infrastructure, superstructure, and energy sources in Northeast Syria. The Turkish threat was announced by Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who stated on October 4, 2023, that “all infrastructure, superstructure, and energy installations- affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG)- in Syria and Iraq have become legitimate targets for our security, military, and intelligence forces.” This statement followed an attack on the Ministry of Interior Affairs headquarter in Ankara, in which two police officers were injured. However, the General Commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdî, denied any involvement of his forces in the Ankara attack.
Since then, Turkish forces have continued attacks on areas in northeast Syria, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian installations, including health centers, power transfer stations, oil and gas fields, and small factories and businesses, causing a widespread destruction and disruption of basic services from the populations.
On October 23, 2024, the Turkish aerospace company “TUSAS”, located in the Turkish capital Ankara, was attacked, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to 14, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Turkey quickly accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of being behind the attack, alleging that the militants involved infiltrated from Northeast Syria. Moreover, Turkish media outlets reported conflicting and misleading information, which was debunked by the news verification platform, True Platform, confirming that there was no solid evidence of militants infiltrating by air.
Despite the denial by SDF’s General Commander, Mazloum Abdî of any connection between his forces and the attackers, confirmed in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) later claimed responsibility for the attack. Nevertheless, the Turkish Ministry of Defense initiated a military campaign on the same evening of the attack, targeting areas in Northeast Syria.
The Turkish military campaign that comprised 107 airstrikes and artillery shelling left a catastrophic toll of victims. At least 14 persons were killed, including three children and three women, while 64 others were injured, including 10 children and 11 women. The bombardment also caused significant damage to vital energy infrastructure, severely affecting gas supplies, heating fuel, and electricity, which are essential for operating water pumping stations.
The targeting of power stations and energy sources has further exacerbated the situation. In a statement by Ziyad Rustam, co-chair of the Northeast Syria Energy Authority, he explained that they are facing significant difficulties in securing spare parts needed to repair the damaged stations. He clarified that the cost of electrical transformers ranges between 500,000 and 1 million dollars, placing an enormous economic burden on a region already suffering from a blockade and multiple humanitarian challenges.
Ramifications of the attacks have not been limited to the human and material aspects only, but have also extended to the humanitarian side as well. In a statement issued on October 31, 2024, the Northeast Syria NGO Forum (NES Forum), a coalition of international organizations operating in the region, voiced deep concerns for the Turkish attacks that have been renewed since October 23. These attacks led to the death of 17 civilians and the injury of 160 others, resulting in serious damage to several critical sites of infrastructure rendering them out of service and further worsening civilians’ access to water and electricity. The statement added that access to electricity for 1.05 million inhabitants in 1,322 communities, 1,937 schools and 12 medical facilities is now severely threatened across Northeast Syria. It also pointed out that the majority of humanitarian partners operating in the affected areas delivering essential services — such health, protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) — had suspended their movements due to the escalation in hostilities, emphasizing that this disruption not only impedes access to critical support but also heightens the vulnerability of affected communities, isolating them and depriving them of life-saving assistance.
On October 26, 2024, local Syrian organizations staged a vigil in front of the United Nations headquarter in Qamishli City, and condemned the ongoing Turkish attacks on infrastructure and civilian installations in Northeast Syria, calling on the United Nations and the US-led coalition to intervene promptly to end the attacks and protect civilians.
Methodology:
This report aims to document the recurrent Turkish attacks on Northeast Syria, based on a comprehensive analysis of data collected by our field researchers from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The report assesses the impact of these attacks on civilians using multiple sources, including testimonies from witnesses, victims, survivors, and their families.
To prepare this report, Synergy collected 26 testimonies from survivors, families of civilian victims, and eyewitnesses on the Turkish attacks. These testimonies include first-hand accounts of the incidents and their aftermath on individuals and local communities. We are aware of the bulk of our responsibility towards the victims, and we rely, in our work, on strategies that focus on experiences, perspectives and priorities of the victims, survivors, and their families as a core part of our daily work. We are committed to including multiple perspectives to develop an analytical in-depth understanding of events, with a commitment to the highest levels of accuracy and integrity.
In addition to the interviews, a wide variety of open sources addressing information about the Turkish attacks on Northeast Syria were reviewed and analyzed. The accuracy of the information included in these sources was verified and used as a supporting reference for our analysis.
While collecting and analyzing data, we adhered to the highest standards of accuracy and integrity to ensure the reliability of the information presented in the report. All information was verified by cross-checking/referencing with multiple sources and ensuring its consistency with the testimonies and statements we collected.
This comprehensive and integrated methodology is essential for providing a clear detailed picture of the Turkish attacks’ impacts on civilians and infrastructure in Northeast Syria and for raising international awareness of these violations.
Turkish Systematic Targeting of Critical Infrastructure and Energy Sources in Northeast Syria:
From October 2023 to October 2024, Turkey conducted four violent campaigns using war planes and drones, targeting more than 250 critical sites in Northeast Syria, including infrastructure and vital facilities, such as power stations, oil and gas fields, as well as small factories and businesses. Pounding some of the vital installations reiterated after they were maintained, indicating a clear pattern of systematic attacks on the objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.
The First Campaign began on October 5, 2023, and lasted for few days. Turkish planes targeted more than 150 critical sites in Northeast Syria, including power transfer stations in major towns and cities, rendering them out of service, in addition to energy installations, the most important of which was al-Sweidiya Power Plant, which supplies gas and electricity to Al-Jazira Region/al-Hasakah Governorate. The Turkish attacks resulted in the death of 11 civilians, including two children, and the injury of over 10 others, including a girl who lost her both legs. Moreover, millions of residents were deprived access to water and electricity for weeks.
On December 24, 2023, during Christmas and New Year celebrations, Turkey launched the Second Campaign of airstrikes, targeting over 50 critical sites, including an oil station near Al-Kahef/Bana Shikfatiyah Village in Derik/Al-Malikiyah, and the Awda and Al-Saeeda Oil Fields in the countryside of Qamishli. The bombardments rendered these stations inoperable, depriving more than one million residents of electricity due to the halt in gas supplies provided by these facilities.
On December 25, Turkey expanded its attacks to include industrial and service facilities, including a medical facility, an olive oil factory, a sewing workshop, livestock feed facilities, a cement plant, a wedding hall, and the only oxygen cylinder manufacturing laboratory in the region. The most severe attack occurred at a printing press, resulting in the deaths of four employees, including a young woman.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense acknowledged in an official statement the responsibility for these strikes, in which nine civilians were killed, including two young women, and 14 others were injured. The strikes spread panic among the local population.
It is noteworthy that some of the targeted installations, such as the medical-grade oxygen bottling plant and a power station in al-Dirbasiyah, had received support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and both were rendered completely out of service.[1]
At the beginning of 2024, areas in Northeast Syria experienced a Third Campaign of intense Turkish strikes. Starting on January 14, 2024, warplanes and drones targeted approximately 74 critical sites, including oil and energy installations previously struck in earlier campaigns, such as al-Sweidiya Plant that produces gas and electricity. The Plant was struck at least ten times and was rendered completely out of service, depriving millions of residents of home gas cylinders, and cutting off electricity from hundreds of villages and several towns and cities. This disruption also affected the operation of water stations and other energy-dependent service facilities. Furthermore, the campaign resulted in injuries to at least nine civilians, including two children and a pregnant woman.
Images showing fires in a power transfer station in Kobani City after it was targeted by a Turkish drone in mid-January 2024. Photos Source: North Press Agency
The Fourth Campaign of violent airstrikes and bombardment was carried out between 23 and 31 of October, 2024, resulting in a tragic toll of victims. During this campaign, 14 persons were killed, including three children and three women, while 64 others were injured, including 10 children and 11 women. The shelling also destroyed critical energy sites, significantly affecting gas sources, heating fuel, and electricity supplies that are fundamental for operating the water pumping stations.
Media teams were repeatedly targeted during this campaign while covering the damage. One journalist reported to Synergy Association that on October 24, 2024, she and her team, along with other media teams affiliated with local and regional institutions—including reporters, cameramen, and field coordinators—were directly targeted by a Turkish drone while covering a Turkish attack on the Awda Oil Field in the countryside of Terbeh Spiyeh/al-Qahtaniyah. This occurred despite the media team members wearing badges clearly identifying them as journalists. A similar incident took place at a power transfer station in Amuda City, where a media team working for a local channel was attacked while documenting the bombardment on the station. Fortunately, no injuries were recorded.
This systematic pattern of deliberate Turkish attacks on critical infrastructure and energy sources in Northeast Syria indicates Turkey’s intention to destroy the region’s economy and deprive the residents from their basic rights and services. According to statements of officials in the Autonomous Administration, the damage to infrastructure are estimated millions of dollars. A report- citing officials in the oil sector- indicated that the losses are estimated to exceed one billion dollars, including the costs of repairs and lost oil revenue, among other factors.
In statement published on March 11,2024, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (COI) reported that, “Turkish aerial attacks on power plants deprived nearly one million people of water and electricity for weeks, in violation of international humanitarian law. Civilians were also killed in targeted aerial attacks fitting a pattern of Turkish drone strikes. Such attacks may amount to war crimes.”
On-the-Ground Testimonies: Civilians under Bombing:
The stories of pain and suffering recur with every Turkish raid on areas in Northeast Syria. These stories, documented by Synergy, are not just figures included in human rights reports; they are rather real accounts that clearly illustrate the atrocities occurring in conflict areas, where civilians pay a heavy price due to repeated attacks that violate IHL and IHRL.
- My Body Covered with Shrapnel:
On January 15, 2024, multiple areas in Northeast Syria were subjected to intensive drones and warplanes attacks, targeting both critical installations and civilian objects.
Kaprin al-Farho, 32, an employee in an electricity corporation in al-Dirbasiyah, had headed to work as usual when he learned that the city’s power station had been hit by a Turkish drone strike. Without hesitation, he and a colleague went to the site to check on their other colleagues and help extinguish the fire. Kaprin recounted to Synergy what happened after he arrived at the bombing site:
“Ten minutes after we arrived, the plant was targeted again. I sustained shrapnel injuries throughout my body and was taken to Khabbat Hospital in the city. After receiving initial treatment, I was transferred to another hospital in the city and then to hospitals in al-Hasakah.”
Doctors said that Kaprin’s body contained 18 pieces of shrapnel. While some have been removed, they informed him that several other fragments lodged in his abdominal wall would be removed at a later time. ‘’Now I live with memories of the bombing and carry shrapnel in my body from its effects’’ Kaprin said.
Kaprin’s life has changed ever since; memories of shelling and shrapnel have become a part of his daily life, constantly reminding him of the harrowing moments he endured, and the sacrifices civilians make amid ongoing conflict.
Turkey employs a strategy of conducting double-tap and successive airstrikes by repeatedly bombing the same location, putting rescuers and humanitarian workers at risk and causing maximum damage to the facility, and spreading dismay among the population. Repeated strikes on the same site constitute a flagrant violation of the Principle of Protection enshrined in the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions.
- Joy Disrupted by Shelling:
On April 26, 2024, the family of the 11-year-old girl, Lojayn Disho, was present at an engagement party of a relative in Awn al-Dadat Village, Northern Manbij. The occasion was filled with joy and hope, with Lojayn accompanying her elderly grandmother to assist with some tasks.
Amid the celebration, two mortar shells fired by SNA factions suddenly dropped on the village. The attack resulted in the grandmother losing her hearing for several hours, while Lojayn was there shivering from panic. It was only after two hours that they realized she had been injured by shrapnel.
Lojayn was soon taken to the “Specialized Hospital” in Manbij. Medical examinations revealed that shrapnel had hit her abdomen, necessitating an urgent surgical operation to remove a 25 cm segment of her intestines, according to the hospital report. Wa’ad Disho, a relative of Lojayn, spoke to Synergy saying:
“Lojayn was at a family gathering meant for joy, but what happened? She was injured by shrapnel from a mortar shell and had a part of her intestines removed. She remembers the incident every time and trembles with fear. During her treatment at the hospital, they had difficulty examining her wound due to her young age and constant fear.”
Lojayn’s story highlights the devastating impacts of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, particularly children. The use of mortar shells in predominantly civilian areas constitutes a grave violation of the IHL, which mandates the protection of civilians in armed conflicts. All parties to the conflict must respect the IHL to ensure the protection of innocents and spare them the woes of war.
Image of the 11-year-old girl, Lojayn Disho, in the “Specialized Hospital” in Manbij City, on April 26, 2024. She sustained shrapnel in the abdomen as a result of shelling carried out by the opposition SNA on a betrothal party in Awn al-Dadat Village, northern Manbij. Photo Source: the girl’s family
- Death Shadows Us:
Ali Abdurrahman, a 17-year-old boy, lived a simple life filled with challenges since he was a kid. He experienced displacement and endured poverty. Ali was not old enough to overcome these difficulties until his life ended tragically due to a Turkish bombardment.
It all started in the wake of the Turkish military operation “Olive Branch”, during which the 11-year-old Ali Abdurrahman was forcibly displaced from Afrin. Turkish forces occupied the city, aided by the SNA factions, compelling Ali and his family to move to Tall Rifaat Town, Northern Aleppo, in search of safety.
At 17, as Ali and his family struggled with dire living conditions, Ali had to work in construction and excavation in the village of Beloniya. However, a Turkish drone hit the village on March 17, 2024, causing serious injuries to Ali and wounding his 30-year-old co-worker with shrapnel all over his body.
Zakariya, 27, Ali’s eldest brother, spoke to Synergy. He said:
“My brother had to work due to our poor economic situation. Unfortunately, just one week into his job, he was injured in a Turkish drone strike. He was taken to Tall Rifaat Hospital along with his injured co-worker, and then both were transferred to Fafin Hospital in al-Shahbaa. His co-worker survived after shrapnel was removed from his body and a metal rod was inserted into his leg. However, my brother’s injuries were severe, affecting his head, chest, and back. He passed away in the hospital just two hours after the attack.”
Zakariya concluded, “My brother’s life was very simple. He was young, experienced displacement, and he didn’t live long enough to grow up before dying in the bombing.”
Image of the child Ali Abdurrahman, 17, who was killed as a result of a Turkish drone attack on Beloniya Village in Tal Rifaat Town, on April 17, 2024. Photo Source: the victim’s brother
- Bombing Does Not Spare Children:
On October 24, 2024, areas in Manbij countryside and al-Shahba, Northern Aleppo, came under heavy artillery shelling, causing civilian casualties, including women and children. In one of the tragic stories documented by Synergy Association, children of the same family were playing in front of their house when a shell landed nearby, killing one child and injuring the others. The scattered shrapnel caused the deaths and injuries. A family member, interviewed by Synergy, stated “bombing shows no regard to children and often targets civilians and their homes.”
- Airstrikes: The Tragedy Recurs
The airstrikes with war planes and drones were more destructive, exacerbating the suffering of civilians in securing basic needs, such as water, electricity, and fuel. One witness interviewed by Synergy shared that his brother, who was killed in the strikes on October 25, 2024, had worked as a security guard at a gas plant located in al-Sweidiya for three years. The victim was married and had three children.
Upon hearing about the bombing, the witness rushed to the site to check on his brother. However, his brother’s colleagues informed him that he had been injured and taken to the hospital. After a painstaking search in the hospitals of Ma’bada/Girkê Legê and al-Malikiyah/Derik, it was found out that he had died from shrapnel wounds caused by the airstrike. Identifying the body was challenging, and the witness was able to recognize his brother by a metal rod in his leg. The tragedy did not end there; the family faced a new hardship with the loss of their sole breadwinner, leaving a wound that will not heal easily.
- On the Cusp of a New Syria:
On December 8, 2024, Syria experienced a watershed moment with the fall of al-Assad regime, as celebrations filled the streets of many Syrian cities. However, in stark contrast, the scene in Northern and Northeastern Syria was marked by fear and displacement. The residents in these areas faced intensive bombardment and attacks launched by the Turkish-supported SNA on al-Shahba areas, Northern Aleppo, Manbij City, and even Tishreen Dam. The attacks involved artillery, rockets, and airstrikes using drones and warplanes, causing widespread destruction and leaving numerous victims.
Between December 8 and 23, Synergy Association documented the deaths of 45 persons, including 14 children, in addition to the injury of 14 civilians, among them 3 children and two women, due to Turkish drone strikes and artillery shelling on the SDF-held areas.
In one of the deadliest attacks, on December 8, a Turkish drone attack hit Al-Mistriha Village, in the countryside of Ayn Issa Town, Northern Raqqa, killing 12 civilians, including six children, and injuring others with varying degrees of severity. The scene in the village was heartbreaking: homes destroyed, bodies of victims and children lying in the rubble, and families grieving the loss of their loved ones in horrific moments.
Legal Liabilities and Recommendations:
The Turkish government carried out deliberate and declared attacks on civilian objects and critical infrastructure in northeast Syria, constituting a violation of customary International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The principles of IHL and the IHRL mandate the protection of civilian lives, properties, and infrastructure.
IHL establishes fundamental standards that warring parties must adhere to during armed conflicts to protect civilians and civilian objects. The Turkish attacks on northeast Syria, as outlined in the report, violate several key principles of IHL, including:[2]
- The Principle of Distinction:
This principle states the necessity to distinguish between civilian and military targets. Attacks against critical infrastructure, such as power plants, oil and gas installations, and health facilities are clear violation of distinction principle, as they inflict damage to civilians and disrupt basic services the civilians rely on.
- The Principle of Proportionality:
This Principle, under IHL, prohibits launching attacks on legitimate military targets which may be expected to cause incidental civilian casualties, harm to civilians, or damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof. This is considered excessive when compared to the anticipated concrete and direct military advantage. Additionally, precautions principle must be applied concurrently with proportionality principle, as well as independently of it. In other words, even if the expected incidental civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects are not deemed excessive relative to the anticipated military advantage, the attacking party must still take all feasible measures to minimize incidental harm to civilians. Turkish attacks have resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, causing severe hardship for civilians (such as power and water outages). Therefore, the Turkish government’s attacks on northeast Syria have not adhered to the principle of proportionality under IHL.[3]
Article 51 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits attacks that do not distinguish between civilian and military targets. It considers indiscriminate attacks that result in civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure as a clear violation of this prohibition.[4]
Under IHRL, states are obligated to protect fundamental human rights even during armed conflict. These rights include:
- The Right to Life:
Article (6) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that every person has the inherent right to life, which must be protected by states. Turkish attacks that have claimed the lives of civilians, including women and children, are considered violations of this right.[5]
- The Right to Health:
This right includes ensuring that individuals enjoy access to basic health care. Attacks on health facilities that disrupt medical services are considered violation of this right. Additionally, the interruption of clean water supplies increases the risk of disease spread, posing an additional threat to public health.[6]
- The Right to an Adequate Standard of Living:
This right includes access to essential services, such as water and electricity. Turkish attacks targeting infrastructure necessary for providing these services directly violate this right.
The evidence and documented facts in this report demonstrate Turkey’s violations of IHRL and IHL through deliberate attacks on civilian objects and critical infrastructure in northeast Syria. The international community must take concrete actions to ensure Turkey is held accountable for these violations and to guarantee the protection of civilians in the affected areas.
In all circumstances, the Turkish government must immediately cease attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and critical facilities, and respect the IHL. Moreover, it should initiate an impartial and thorough investigation into any civilian casualties resulting from its operations, and adhere to the standards and obligations outlined in the IHRL and the IHL. These obligations include:
- Protection of civilians: Turkey must take all possible measures to protect civilians and civilian objects during military operations and avoid attacks that may cause disproportionate or indiscriminate harm.
- Ensuring access to humanitarian assistance: Turkey must permit unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the conflict and ensure that relief operations are not hindered by military actions.
- Responsibility for illegal actions: Under international law, Turkey is responsible for any violations committed by its military armed forces, and it must hold accountable the perpetrators of these violations.
- Compensation for damages: Turkey must provide appropriate compensations to civilian victims affected by illegal attacks, including repairing the damages inflicted to critical infrastructure.
You can read the full Report (16 pages) through the link.
[1] For more, read: Turkey Targets USAID Projects in Northeast Syria, published on April 27, 2024, by the
Kurdish Peace Institute (KPI)
[2] International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IHL, Customary IHL.
[3] Article 51 (5) (b) First Additional Protocol, and Rule (14) of the Customary International Humanitarian Law.
[4] ICRC, additional protocol (1) to the Geneva Conventions, article 51.
[5] United Nations, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), article 6.
[6] United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, article 12.