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We have a network of volunteers embedded in structures across North and East Syria providing us with footage and photos, as well as our own ground teams shooting professional-quality photography and video when the need arises. Our still images and video footage have been used by the world’s top media companies – BBC, NBC, ABC and many more.

As well as producing original photography and videos we can provide content to journalists to accompany their own reporting on the region for nominal licensing fees or in some cases without charge.

If you are a journalist or researcher and would like to know more about how we can help you, feel free to contact us.

Our Instagram feed showcases a selection of recent shots by our field researchers:

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Yesterday, on March 19th, the Yazidi community of

Yesterday, on March 19th, the Yazidi community of the Jazira region in NES celebrated its New Year's festivity called "Red Wednesday" in the countryside near Amude.

Yazidis are among the smallest minority groups in Syria, once numbering around 30,000 to 60,000 individuals.

According to the Yazidi House organization there are currently only about 3,000 Yazidis left living in 56 villages in Syria's Jazira region, located in the countryside around the towns of Tirbe Spi, Heseke, Derik and Amude.

While the Yazidi population in Iraq suffered from the ISIS genocide, the religious minority also had to face discrimination under Syria's Ba’ath government, where conceptions of Yazidis as devil worshippers remained in place and were perpetuated in the education system.

The 6 Yazidi villages around Sere Kaniye are completely abandoned following Turkey’s invasion of this region in 2019.

There were also 24 Yazidi villages in Afrin prior to Turkey’s 2018 invasion, with an estimated population of 5,000 - 15,000, which has also almost entirely fled.

On March 12th, 2004, violence against Kurdish fans

On March 12th, 2004, violence against Kurdish fans at a football match between Jazira and Deir ez-Zor triggered an Kurdish uprising that spread from Qamishlo to as far as Aleppo. The resulting government crackdown saw 2,000 people arrested and over 30 killed.

AANES marks the day to both commemorate those killed, and bring together the peoples of North and East Syria in unity. Qamishlo city again played host to the now-annual friendly football match between the Jazira and Deir ez-Zor teams.

In the Qamishlo football stadium, Jazira region's Executive Council co-chair, Talaat Younis, gave a speech in which he argued that the events of 2004 were a pivotal moment in which Syrian people stood up against the divisive and repressive politics of the Ba'ath regime.

As people across NES celebrate the 8th of March -

As people across NES celebrate the 8th of March - International Women's Day - by taking to the streets to march, RIC visited various political & civil society organizations to hear about their preparations for the day.

RIC spoke to Zehra Semo of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Women’s Council: "For March 8th we organized a seminar about women's struggle against patriarchal mentalities. Many people came: Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, intellectuals, politicians, women’s organizations, legal groups".

The seminar featured 4 key speeches, after each of which the floor was opened for the audience to contribute thier views. Both women & men spoke up regarding their experiences and analyses of women's freedom in NES.

Semo continued, "But we don’t just celebrate 8th of March. Every day is a struggle for women’s freedom. For example, through the spreading & advancement of our system of co-chairing in society."

RIC also spoke with Wala al-Ali, the co-chair of NES' Jazira Canton Justice Council. She stated that the Justice Council, together with Mala Jin (NES' Women's Houses), were marking March 8th by organizing week-long educational sessions; one in Kurdish language, one in Arabic.

In an interview with Mala Jin's head coordinator in Qamishlo city, RIC was told that these educational sessions "were related to teaching people about the work of Mala Jin in general, and about sexism, & about the new 'Family Law'".

Al-Ali explained that the 'Family Law' is just for NES' Jazira Canton, and replaces the former 'Women's Law' which was a hallmark of NES' justice system: "When we brought about the Women's Law in 2014, we created laws according to the situation then.

But in late 2022 we introduced the new version, the Family Law, which is more extensive, as society is increasingly accepting of these things related to women's rights; change has happened so this new version is suited to the situation now."

Mala Jin said they also held a 1-day educational session, in which 90 women & men learnt about the history of March 8th, but added, "this year is not like the other years, as our people are hurting from the earthquake, therefore we celebrate through seminars and education only".

AANES announced it has suspended the operation of

AANES announced it has suspended the operation of its Tishrin Dam (Manbij region) for 1 week, after the water fell below the 'dead level' of 320m, at which point the dam can no longer produce electricity.

RIC visited the dam to learn about the current crisis.

Hamouda Al-Hammadi, the dam's administrative engineer, told RIC: "At full capacity, with enough water flowing, the dam's 6 turbines could provide 630MW of electricity, 24 hours a day". But, al-Hammadi said, they lack spare parts, so usually only 2 or 3 turbines are functional.

Furthermore, due to the severe shortage of water entering the Syrian Euphrates from Turkey, the turbines that are running cannot produce so much electricity. For example, in recent months, Kobane and its surrounding villages were receiving 45MW for 4 hours/day from the dam.

Al-Hammadi relayed to RIC some of the challenges they were facing: "600 people run the dam. 100 are old staff, who have worked here for years, under the Syrian regime, ISIS, and now AANES. The new staff are coming from universities, they receive specialist training but too many young educated people leave, so there is a constant lack of trained engineers and workers. Particularly, we need more engineers from mechanical and electrical backgrounds".

The issue of the Euphrates flow is key. A water crisis has been brewing over the past few years, with @humanrightswatch writing that the "Turkish authorities have failed to ensure an adequate water flow downstream into the Syrian portion of the Euphrates river".

At the beginning of 2021, the water flow entering Syria from Turkey sharply dropped. This has affected not only electricity production, but also agricultural productivity, sanitation/hygiene, and water pollution.

In winter, water storage in the dam should be at its peak; this winter the water level in Tishrin declined roughly 5m. The Tishrin dam supplies electricity to Manbij, Kobane, Sarrin & Tabqa. The Tabqa dam also supplies electricity to some of these areas.

[NEW REPORT] With a ground invasion greenlight r

[NEW REPORT]

With a ground invasion greenlight repeatedly denied, Turkey's drone campaign in NES has risen to the fore as a key part of its strategy to weaken the SDF and AANES. This report presents RIC's 2022 data on Turkish drone strikes in NES.

In 2022, in NES, RIC recorded 130 Turkish drone strikes, killing 87 people and injuring 151. These strikes ranged from targeted assassinations of important military or political personnel, to hits on civilian infrastructure.

While the civilian casualty toll is significant, and children are amongst these, Turkey does not formally recognize the civilian casualties that its strikes incur.

2022’s 130 strikes mark a 46% increase from 2021's 89 strikes. Turkey’s drone war in NES impacts the region in three key ways: obstructing the global mission to defeat ISIS, hampering democracy-building efforts, and engendering an unstable and insecure environment for civilians.

To download the report, click link in bio⬆⬆

[NEW REPORT] In the earthquake-devastated Afrin

[NEW REPORT]

In the earthquake-devastated Afrin region, the Turkish occupation continues unshaken. RIC has been monitoring the occupation situation in northern Syria since 2021, particularly the SNA's crimes & rights violations. Read our new Occupation Report for Q1 & Q2, 2022.

During Jan-June 2022, in Turkish-occupied Afrin & M4 Strip, RIC recorded:

📌 704 incidents involving unlawful arrest - 10% up from the same period in 2021.

📌 335 cases of extortion, robbery, unauthorised sale of property, and looting, 89% of which occurred in Afrin region.

📌 64 cases of infighting - almost double what RIC recorded in the same period last year.

📌 Key ISIS leadership figures continue to base themselves in, comfortably move around, and operate from the Turkish-occupied territories.

📌 The most serious episode of infighting between SNA militias since 2021, following the temporary entrance of HTS into Jindires in June.

📌 The US lifted its Caesar sanctions on certain areas, including the Turkish-occupied M4 Strip and ‘Euphrates Shield’ area, but not Afrin.

To download the report, click link in bio⬆⬆

[NEW REPORT] RIC's annual ISIS sleeper cell repo

[NEW REPORT]

RIC's annual ISIS sleeper cell report for 2022 breaks down the key events and statistics from the last year:

📌Attacks from ISIS sleeper cells (285) remained roughly consistent with 2021, but number of casualties rose.

📌Huge spike in the total number of ISIS-linked individuals arrested by the Asayish and SDF (1,230): over double that of any of the 3 years prior.

📌2 significant SDF raid campaigns in al-Hol camp saw large numbers of ISIS-linked individuals arrested & seizure of weapons and communications devices.

📌ISIS engaged in intimidation, targeting of tribal & political leaders, and attacking those perceived as AANES-linked.

📌ISIS activity was concentrated in NES’ Arab-majority regions, in particular Deir ez-Zor.

📌Sleeper cells sought to stoke and take advantage of civilian grievances stemming from the deterioration of socio-economic conditions in many areas.

To download the report, click link in bio⬆⬆

Across January 27th and 28th, the city of Qamishlo

Across January 27th and 28th, the city of Qamishlo hosted North and East Syria's inaugural technology fair.

24 inventors and companies participated in the event, which was organized by the telecommunications company Rcell, presenting a variety of applications and devices.

Among the exhibitors there were also students of the University of Rojava.

Recently graduated from the faculties of Mechatronics, Engineering, and the Institute of Technical Sciences, they presented their technological innovations including a smart farming project and a solar powered fridge, made from a recycled water cooler, which operates from a 50 watt panel and can also last 3 hours without sun thanks to the solar powered battery.

Rojava University was established in Qamishlo in 2016. In total, 4 public universities have been built in NES since the region became self-governing in 2012, of which 3 remain operational today.

For further information about NES' University System click link in bio.⬆⬆

Today is the 5th anniversary of the Turkish invasi

Today is the 5th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Afrin.

250,000 to 300,000 people fled the city and surrounding villages, mostly to the area of Shehba to the south.

On a recent trip to the region, we interviewed some of the displaced, and those responsible for documenting the many human rights abuses that have occured in the now occupied area.

A detailed 'explainer' will be published on our website rojavainformationcenter.com

Since North East Syria’s ancient cultural herita

Since North East Syria’s ancient cultural heritage is remarkable, the @RojavaIC-team took a break from office work to visit the Tell Mozan archaeological site.

Formerly known as "Urkesh" the settlement located near the Turkish border in Taurus Region, Heseke Governorate was founded during the 4th millenium BC.

Excavations at Tell Mozan, which began in 1984, have revealed a royal palace as well as residential areas and city walls.

Now protected by the Autonomous Administration, people hope that the rich cultural heritage will remain intact despite threats of a further Turkish invasion.

Archaeologists consider that many still-buried secrets are waiting to be discovered.

We rounded off the day having çay with a family.

#RIC #NES #CulturalHeritage #archaeology #excavation #Urkesh #TellMozan

[ON THE GROUND] In Teqil Beqil, Derik, Turkey's '

[ON THE GROUND]

In Teqil Beqil, Derik, Turkey's 'double-tap' strike last night killed 9 civilians, including 1 journalist, and injured 3. RIC visited the site to record the impact of the bombing.

After Turkey's first airstrike in Teqil Beqil, civilians nearby mobilised to come to the scene. Turkey then bombed a car driving away from the site, this time likely with a drone rather than a warplane, and reportedly bombed the site itself twice more.

The SDF today announced that Turkey's 'Operation Claw Sword' saw a total of 11 civilians killed, 9 civilians injured, 1 SDF soldier killed, 2 AANES 'guards' killed, 15 SAA soldiers killed, and 12 SAA soldiers injured.

NES' TEV-DEM (Movement for a Democratic Society) co-chair, Ruken Ehmed, commented, "the bombardment [...] is an effort to cover up the crisis experienced by the Turkish state in domestic politics [...It] resorted to such an attack to get results in the [Turkish] elections".

AANES commented, "we call on the sponsors of the cessation of hostilities, the Russian Federation and the USA, and with them the international community, to show a clear position towards the arrogance of the Turkish state and its continuous war".

[ON THE GROUND] In Teqil Beqil, Derik, Turkey's '

[ON THE GROUND]

In Teqil Beqil, Derik, Turkey's 'double-tap' strike last night killed 9 civilians, including 1 journalist, and injured 3. RIC visited the site to record the impact of the bombing.

After Turkey's first airstrike in Teqil Beqil, civilians nearby mobilised to come to the scene. Turkey then bombed a car driving away from the site, this time likely with a drone rather than a warplane, and reportedly bombed the site itself twice more.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Qamishlo this morning, marching together for over an hour. The participants explained that they were protesting against the use of chemical weapons by Turkey in Iraq and that they were worried Turkey would use chemical weapons in NES, if fears of a new invasion are realized.

Yesterday, Qamishlo held its annual book fair for

Yesterday, Qamishlo held its annual book fair for the 6th year running. The event celebrates the Kurdish culture, language and literature; all of which were suppressed under Syrian government rule. Books in Arabic, Syriac, Turkish, Armenian, and English were also for sale.

The significance of this fair can be seen in the context of AANES' efforts to promote a societal culture in which people are able to read and write in their mother tongue while also knowing the languages of those living around them, with whom they share a society.

RIC spoke with Berivan Khaled, AANES' Executive Council co-chair, who said, "it is important that ethnic groups are accepted based on a democratic idea, so coexistence among them is guaranteed. Individuals should be enabled to speak Kurdish, Arabic, Syriac & their mother tongue."

Over a thousand people attended the funeral of Yel

Over a thousand people attended the funeral of Yelmaz Shero in Qamishlo yesterday.

He and his fellow co-chair of the Justice and Reform Office of the Autonomous Administration, Zeynep Saroxan, were both killed in a Turkish drone strike near Girke Lege.

This was an explicit attack on key civilian workers in AANES' political structures.

A demonstration took place in Qamishlo in solidari

A demonstration took place in Qamishlo in solidarity with the clashes in Iran following the killing of Jina Amini by the morality police of the Iranian regime.

Women cut their hair and burned head coverings in protest.

Students graduating from the Mechatronics departme

Students graduating from the Mechatronics department of Rojava University recently presented their final year projects. These included robotic spiders, a drone, a prosthetic arm controlled by a glove with sensors, and a firefighting tank equipped with infrared sensors and a water pump. All of these are made with 3D printed parts.

Swipe for a video of these in action >>>

A Turkish drone targeted a car on the Qamishlo-Tir

A Turkish drone targeted a car on the Qamishlo-Tirbespiye road two days ago. This was the 6th Turkish drone attack on NES in 5 days.
Turkish drones have attacked NES 56 times in 2022, including 18 cars.
3 people died in yesterday's attack near the village of Shorek. According to local sources, they were YPJ soldiers. At least 21 people have been killed & 63 wounded or disfigured by Turkish drone attacks in 2022.
According to local sources, the 3 killed YPJ women were targeted by a Turkish drone as they left the 'Women's Revolution Forum' last night. The Forum, hosted by the AANES, discussed the achievement of 10 years of revolution for women.
The Forum resumed today under the banner of 'Women’s struggle to protect the revolution: what are the attacks that target the gains & achievements of the revolution?'.
According to an SDF statement, the 3 women are "YPJ commander Roj Khabur, YAT commander Jiyan Tolhildan, & comrade Barin Botan." The 3 women are from Darbasiya, Afrin, & Shehba, respectively.
Commander Roj Khabur is pictured at the Forum by @syriaeveryday

June in NES is wheat harvesting season. With 450,0

June in NES is wheat harvesting season. With 450,000t expected by the end of the year, this is the second year in a row that the wheat harvest will fall significantly short of the 600,000t needed to feed NES.

Find out about the difficulties farmers face in our newest video.

Events across NES celebrated the 10th anniversary

Events across NES celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 'Rojava Revolution' yesterday. Thousands from across the Jazira region participated in celebrations held at Qamishlo's 'Martyrs of the 12th of March' stadium.

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