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:
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Aataa for Relief and Development
- Abdaa Organisation for Developmant
- Adel Center For Human Rights
- Afrin Platform
- Ajyal Organizati
- Al Birr organization in Qamishli
- Al Manarah Organization For Development
- Al-Asil Association for Development
- Albaghooz Hope for Development
- Al-Diyar Society
- Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
- Allied for Peace Organization
- Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
- Amal Al-Furat Organisation
- Anwar Algad Organaization
- Arak of East Organization
- ARAS Charity
- Areej Organization for Social Development
- Arjuan for Human Development
- ASHNA for Development
- Ashtar Development Organization
- Ashti Peacebuilding Center
- ASO Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization
- Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
- Ataa al-Baghouz Organization
- Atyaf Development Association
- Awda for DEVELOPMENT
- Ayadi Moubsra Organization – SoS
- Baladna Organization for Civil Society
- Balsam Center for Health Education
- Bedaya Organization
- Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
- Better Life Organization
- Better Tomorrow Organization
- Bridges of Love Organization
- Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
- Bzoug Organization for Development
- C.R.O Organization
- Center for Defense of Liberties
- Center for research and Protection women’s rights in Syria
- Civil Community Youth Organization
- Cloud Organization
- Community Solidarity Organaization
- DAN for Relief and Development
- Dari Organisation
- Deirna Organization for Development
- Demos
- Development – Seed – Center
- Development Without Borders Organization
- Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
- Documentation Violations Center in Northern Syria
- DOZ
- DURAT ALFURAT Organization
- dyaalaml
- Ebdaa organisation for develop ment
- Edraak Organization for Development and Peace
- Ella Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
- Emaar Mansura
- ENGINEERING for service’s
- Enlil Center
- Enma Aljazera Organization
- ENMAA Organisation
- Ensaf for Development
- Euphrates Organization for Relief and Development
- EWAS (Environment and Water Association)
- Ezdina
- F.M.T – Future Makers Team
- Faidh Organisation for Development
- Fajr Organization
- FDO – Organisation
- Fikra Organization
- For Them Organisation
- FOR YOU Organization
- Free Kurdish Women Organization
- Friends Charity Association
- Furatna for Development
- Future Hands Organization
- Ghaith Organisation for Development
- Green Branch Organization
- Green Tress
- Green Women’s Association
- Hadaf Organaization for Humanitarian
- Hajen Technicians Organization
- Haneen AlFurat
- Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims
- Hevy Organisation for Relief and Development
- HLD – Association for Development
- Holm Organization For Development
- Hope Makers
- House of Citizenship
- Humanity Ray
- Inaash Organization for Development
- Intensive Care Association
- IWAA Organization
- Jan center for special needs
- Jasmine Association
- Jian Charity Association
- Jinar for for Development
- Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights
- Jsor Alamal Organization
- Khabour Association
- Khutwa Association
- Kobani for Relief and Development – (KRD)
- Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (Rased)
- Kurdish Feminist Voices
- Lasting Peace Organizations for Development
- Leading Women Organization for Development and Health Care
- Lights for development and construction
- Maakom for development and Peace
- Malva for Arts and Culture
- Manara Organization
- Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
- Media Academy Organization
- Mine Action Office
- Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
- Moltka Alnhren Organization
- Nabd Team
- Nasmet Amal Organisation
- National Syrian Alliance
- Nawat Organization
- Nextep Organization
- Nisaa Alamal Organization
- Noun for development and support for women and children
- Okaaz Organization
- Organization for Feminism
- Path Creation Organization
- Payam center for mental health and humam development
- PCSC – Peace and Civil Society Center
- Peace Bridges Organization for Development
- Peace Humane Society
- Peace Land
- Peace Tent
- Peace She Leader Network
- PÊL- Civil Waves
- Peyam Association For Orphan Care
- Purity Organization
- Qadar Organization
- QRD – Organization for Research and Development
- Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
- Reng Organization for development
- Rescue and Relief Team
- Restoration Hope Association
- Roaamustkbl Organization
- Road Organasishn
- Roj Kar for relief and development
- ROJ Organization for Mine Control (Mine Action).
- Rojhilat for Relief and Development
- Rose for Support and Empowerment
- Sahem Organization for cooperation and development
- SAMA Organization
- Sanabel Euphrates Organization for Development
- Sara organization to combat violence against women
- Sawaed Organization for Development
- SCSD – Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue
- SEl Organization for Development and Empowerment
- Shabab Oxygen
- Shams Al Ghad
- Shams Organisation
- Shaqayiq Al Khayr
- SHAR for Development
- Share for Community Development
- Shawshaka Association for Women
- Shilan Association for Relife and Development
- Shurooq Organisation Development
- Silav Center For Civic activities
- SMART
- Sphere Development Organization
- Stability Support Centre
- Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
- Syria foundation sustainable development
- Syria Help Organization
- Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
- Syrian Cancer Society
- Syrian Center for Cevelopment
- Syrian House of Renaissance Association
- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
- Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
- Taa marbouta
- TARA Organization
- Tayif Humanitarian Organization
- TEVIN
- The Four Seasons Organization
- The Kurdish Cultural Association in Denmark
- Together for a Bettar Future
- Together for Algarnya
- Together for Dair Ezzour
- Tomorrow Organizations
- Tree of Life Organization
- Vision
- Weqaya Association
- Wesal Organsition
- Wheat & Olive Platform
- Women for Peace
- Women Future Organsition for development
- Youth for Change
- Youth Optimistic
- Zakon Organization
- Zameen Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
- ZIRAK Organization for Development
- Zorna Development