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.
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.
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.
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.
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.



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.
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.
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.
#DeZ 📸 صور متفرقة من الريف الشرقي لــ دير الزور 🔸بعدسة Asmar Albahar Part 1صور متنوعه من بلاد الشوايا في اقصى الشرق :) ونتسائل لماذا استقر اجدادنا هنا عندما قدموا من حائل . #ديرالزور https://t.co/vFenzmmbEsزين العابدين | Zain al-Abidin @DeirEzzorePart one of this week’s newsletter can be read here.