Update December 4 – Northern Syria Offensive
Highlights
– As displaced families continue to pour in to NES, the DAANES estimates that numbers of IDPs will soon reach 120,000.
– Critical shortages of essential supplies, food, water, medicines and accommodation for IDPs.
– SNA commits attacks, robberies, arrests and extortion targeting Kurdish civilians still in Shehba or attempting to leave.
– Grave risk of imminent Turkish-backed assault against DAANES-governed Manbij, with multi-ethnic population of c.300K, creating further destabilization.
– Kurdish neighborhoods Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh remain calm with no fighting reported today, while encircled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Aleppo city.
Forcible Displacement into North and East Syria
– An estimated 100,000 people have so far been forced to flee from Shehba and Tel Rifaat, seized three days ago by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army militias which previously drove the bulk of the Kurdish population and all Yezidis and Christians out of the Afrin region in 2018.
– Thousands more Arab IDPs have arrived fleeing generalized violence across north-west Syria.
– Tens of thousands of displaced people are continuing to make the dangerous journey into NES, resorting to sleeping in freezing winter conditions outside or in tents inside temporary encampments.
– Last night, a 4 month old infant originally from Afrin died due to the cold temperatures after three days on the road, while traveling to reach Raqqa.
– The DAANES reports receiving 30,000 IDPs from Shehba in Tabqa and Raqqa, where reception centers have been set up.
– In addition to the temporary camps, local Tabqa and Raqqa councils report turning over 20 schools into temporary settlement centers offering blankets, food and clothes to IDPs.
– Evacuations by bus continued from the Shehba region into NES, reaching Tabqa and Raqqa, as some civilians still remain stranded in the region.
– The Syrian Yezidi Union is facilitating shelter for displaced Yezidi families from Tel Rifaat, placing them in Yezidi villages in Heseke, Tirbespi and Amude.
– RIC spoke with Union member Souad Hasso in Heseke, who tells: “There were 450 Yezidi families in Shehba. Some stayed in Tel Rifaat, some reached Tabqa and Raqqa. We will place them in Yezidi villages in Heseke, Tirbespi and Amude, the areas in which there are Yezidi villages. We are facing big difficulties. These villages had been abandoned largely – the houses are ruined. On the road, Yezidi families experienced violence. Ahmed Husso was killed. His wife was injured, so was her brother. In Aleppo, a Yezidi person was killed. Many haven’t reached here.”
– Local humanitarian organizations reports critical shortages of essential supplies, food, water, medicines and accommodation for IDPs. – Kurdish Red Crescent issued a donations appeal in light of the dire humanitarian situation.
– Co-chair of DAANES’ Office of IDP and Refugee Affairs called on UN to open the aYarubiyah (Tel Kocher) border crossing as a critical lifeline for aid delivery. Semalka (Faysh Khabour) is NES’ only working humanitarian crossing. The Yaroubiyah (Tel Kocher) crossing was closed in 2019 following a UNSC veto.
Displaced people arriving in Heseke, 04.12.24 [RIC]
Violence and Human Rights Violations by the SNA in Shehba and Afrin
– The SNA have reportedly been seizing the homes of Kurdish civilians in the villages and towns they have entered.
– In addition to robbery and extortion, civilians who stayed in Shehba are experiencing unlawful arrests and threats to their lives.
– 2 days ago, 40-year old disabled Kurdish woman Amina Hanan was killed by the SNA inside her home in Tel Rifaat.
– In a video widely shared on social media, SNA fighters and an individual wearing what appears to be a press vest are seen assaulting captives in Tel Rifaat.
– Kurdish civilians returning to Afrin were searched and had their belongings confiscated by the SNA. Some, reportedly at least 50, were arrested by the SNA upon return.
– 50 buses which left Shehba, heading towards NES to evacuate IDPs, were unable to reach their destination, after SNA fighters reportedly blocked the way.
Situation in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, isolated Kurdish neighborhoods
– Isolated Kurdish neighborhoods continue to suffer conditions of siege after the remainder of Aleppo was captured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
– Negotiations between the SDF/DAANES and surrounding HTS forces continue, with SDF representatives stating that locals will decide whether to leave or remain.
– Further outflow of civilian refugees into DAANES expected regardless of outcome, though many thousands will also remain in the neighborhoods.
– “Water and food shortages are worsening”, a resident of the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood told RIC.
“Both Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh have past experiences in terms of being attacked by Turkiye’s proxy factions. From 2012 to 2016 there were attacks on these neighbourhoods. The people refused to be displaced; they stayed. Now again we are under attack. However the last two days have been fairly calm, with no fighting in our neighbourhoods. HTS has not entered up to now. Also people have entered our neighbourhoods from some other parts of Aleppo city, because of the relative safety here. Some are afraid of HTS’ rule, for example imposing mandatory hijab for women. People are afraid of a repeat of something like ISIS. They are calculating for these things,” Hamude, an Aleppo journalist, told RIC.
“Right now, in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, the situation is calm, but there is a big threat, because Aleppo is all in the hands of HTS. We are trying to meet people’s needs. People are scared – they see how the displaced people who left Afrin are now again displaced and have gone to Tabqa – but their spirit of resistance is giving morale. No one is leaving the neighbourhoods; they don’t want to risk going into the HTS area,” Rosheen, a Mala Yezidi representative told RIC
Turkish Drone Strikes on NES Civilians
– A Turkish drone strike targeted a car near the bus garage in Derik city, reportedly killing two civilians and injuring a further two.
– This is the second Turkish drone strike in NES in the last week, following a strike three days ago which killed Aziz Sheikho, a 20-year-old man. He was struck while driving on the road between Qamishlo and Heseke.
Clashes in Manbij
– DAANES officials warn of a grave risk of a Turkish assault against Manbij, a multi-ethnic city west of the Euphrates and home to 300,000+ individuals forming an integral part of the multi-ethnic DAANES model of governance.
– The SDF’s Manbij Military Council reported repeated shelling attacks from Turkey and the SNA, as well as attempted ground infiltration.
– The SNA and the SDF have been engaged in clashes at Khafsah and Deir Hafir, near Manbij.
RIC is on-the-ground in NES and available to provide comment, photos and videos, and contact to IDPs, political representatives and humanitarian personnel for comment. Get in touch via e-mail: [email protected] or on WhatsApp or Signal: +963 992 461 683.
