This week in Northern Syria (IX, part two)

A rundown of key events from Turkish/SNA & SDF-controlled territories

Events

• 09/01/22: After concluding the first week of “Operation Humanity and Security” phase two at al-Hawl camp, the SDF Press Center published some related figures.

• The operation is being carried out by 2,000 members of the Asayish and other SDF bodies, assisted by the US-led Coalition.

• 09/01/22: SNA Third Legion published a video allegedly showing the destruction of a concealed 23mm cannon belonging to regime forces just east of Tadef.

  الفيلق الثالث @legion3td

  #الجيش_الوطني_السوري #الفيلق_الثالث تدمير مدفع 23 مم لعصابات أسد الإرهابية على جبهة تادف بريف حلب الشرقي

  

  36.346900, 37.538591

• 09/02/22: Two forest fires broke out in the Cindires subdistrict of Afrin, one of which reportedly took the Syrian Civil Defense 11 hours to put out. Along with logging forest fires have also contributed to deforestation of Afrin in the past four years.

  الدفاع المدني السوري @SyriaCivilDefe

  أخمدت فرق الإطفاء في الدفاع المدني السوري، اليوم الجمعة 2 أيلول، حريقين اندلعا بأحراش في ناحية جنديرس في ريف #عفرين شمالي #حلب، واستمر العمل بأحدهما أكثر من 11 ساعة، بالاعتماد على طريقة العزل بسبب وعورة المنطقة وعدم وصول آليات الإطفاء. #الخوذ_البيضاء

  

  

  

  

• 09/03/22: Asayish forces carrying out “Operation Humanity and Security” discovered an abducted Ezidi woman in al-Hawl camp. Wafa’ ‘Ali ‘Abbas was captured at the age of nine during the Islamic State’s 2014 attack on Sinjar and sold into sex slavery. She was then forced into marriage to a series of now deceased IS fighters before ended up in al-Hawl camp with several of her former husband’s wives after the battle of Baghouz.

  Farhad Barakat @farhadbarakat

  Wafa Ali Abas from Kojo village, a new Ezidi survivor of ISIS captivity, tells her story. She tells her story in Arabic, and I translated into English so that everyone understands. You are very welcome in your community. @nadinemaenza @BBCBreaking @Ezidi2 @Ezidi24 @murad_ismael

• Two days later four other (non-Ezidi) women were discovered by YPJ and Asayish forces being held in captivity at the camp by IS members.

• 09/05/22: Engineering units of the SNA Third Legion destroyed a building allegedly being used as a military position by regime forces near the Tadef frontlines.

  الفيلق الثالث @legion3td

  #الجيش_الوطني_السوري #الفيلق_الثالث لحظة نسف المبنى الذي كانت تتمركز به قوات ميليشيا #نظام الأسد الإرهابية وقناصته على جبهة تادف بريف حلب الشرقي، من قبل وحدات الهندسة في #الفيلق_الثالث.

  

  36.347889, 37.531978

09/05/22: A girl wounded in the August 18th Turkish drone strike in the al-Hasakah countryside reportedly succumbed to her injuries. The drone strike, which killed four other young girls, targeted a UN-supported educational center geared to rehabilitating demobilized youth.

Rojava Information Center @RojavaIC

[UPDATE] The AANES has announced that a fifth child, Silava Remedan, has died as a result of the injuries she incurred from the Turkish drone strike on the UN-affiliated educational center last month.

Rojava Information Center @RojavaIC

On August 18th, a Turkish drone strike on a UN-affiliated children’s educational center killed 4 girls and injured 11. Rania Eta, Zozan Zedan, Dilan Ezedin, and Diyana Elo were killed whilst playing volleyball outside. https://t.co/9utv3eNbOD

Other

• Statistics of attacks of various kinds by Turkey and the SNA on SDF-controlled areas over the month of August. This past month saw a significant rise in civilian casualties compared to previous months (May, June, July).

  

• Previously submerged Byzantine tombs now exposed as the water level of the Euphrates decreases.

  QalaatM @QalaatM

  Syria: some of the Roman/Byzantine tombs unveiled by the lowering water level of Euphrates. Those are family hypogea dug out in the rock. Area is usually submerged due to the Tishrin Dam.

  

  

  

• According to statistics reported by the Bab al-Salamah (A’zaz) and Tell Abyad border crossings, almost 3500 Syrians were deported (or ‘voluntarily returned’) by Turkey in the month of August through these two crossings alone. Many were reportedly arrested while trying to cross into Europe and given the choice between imprisonment in deportation camps or deportation.

  زين العابدين | Zain al-Abidin @DeirEzzore

  #NES أزدياد وتيرة الترحيل مؤخراً لسوريا خلال شهر أب المنصرم، حسب مسؤولي بوابة باب السلامة بلغ عدد العائدين بين قوسين (عودة طوعية) 1878 شخصاً، و98 تم ترحيلهم، أما بوابة تل أبيض بلغ عدد العائدين طوعياً حسب البيان 1470 شخصاً، كل هذا خلال 31 يوماً فقط، وهو عدد ضخم مقارنة 🔽

  

  

• Drone photography showing the al-Ra’i courthouse ('Palace of Justice”) and prison, both built following the town’s capture from IS during Operation Euphrates Shield.

  

  (source)

  

  Green - courthouse, red - prison, 36.615777, 37.449813

• Photos taken from above the village al-Ghazawiyah in southern Afrin (approximately here), the location of one of the two crossings from the region into Idlib.

  

  (source)

  

  (source)

• Photos from the eastern Deir ez-Zour countryside.

  زين العابدين | Zain al-Abidin @DeirEzzore

  #DeZ 📸 صور متفرقة من الريف الشرقي لــ دير الزور 🔸بعدسة Asmar Albahar Part 1

  

  

  

  

  

  زين العابدين | Zain al-Abidin @DeirEzzore

  صور متنوعه من بلاد الشوايا في اقصى الشرق :) ونتسائل لماذا استقر اجدادنا هنا عندما قدموا من حائل . #ديرالزور https://t.co/vFenzmmbEs

  ---

  Part one of this week’s newsletter can be read here.