The US military withdrawal from North and East Syria on October 6, 2019 gave the green light for Turkish invasion attacks launched by the Turkish army against the north-eastern Syrian cities of Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain) and Girê Spî (Tal Abyad). The Turkish state has hired mercenaries from al-Nusra and ISIS to attack the cities of Rojava. Against this invasion attack, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) put up unprecedented resistance. The invading Turkish state and its mercenaries received major blows in a 9-day battle. However, the forces that gave the green light to the Turkish state stepped into action to rescue their cornered ally.

The US and the Turkish state announced a 5-day ceasefire on October 17, 2019. Shortly after, Russia and the Turkish state agreed on a ceasefire on October 22, according to which the Russian military police and the border guards of the Syrian government would be patrolling along the border line. Before this agreement, a decision was made between the SDF and the Syrian government to deploy Syrian troops into the western areas of Kobanê, Ain Issa and Girê Spî in order to prevent the attacks of the Turkish army and its mercenaries.

As the agreement marks its third year, the attacks of the Turkish army and its mercenaries against the region have not stopped since the first day of its implementation.

AREAS TARGETED BY TURKISH STATE IN 2021

The Turkish troops and its mercenaries have targeted all civilian settlements located on the M4 international highway line, as well as the villages in the south of Ain Issa and Girê Spî in 2021. The Turkish forces and allied mercenaries carried out 523 attacks against the region in the last year. While 3 of these attacks were infiltration attempts, the rest were bombings with heavy weapons, mortars, howitzers and drones against civilian areas. Moreover, 233 military reconnaissance flights took place over the region. Although the airspace is controlled by the International Coalition, Turkish fighter jets flew over the region 9 times.

Erîda, Zenûbiya, Bir Zinara Ereban and Bir Zinara Kurdan, Xirbit Beqir, Firîan, Hêmir, Qiz Elî, Leqleqo, Qiz Elî wheat warehouses located in the south of Girê Spî were the most bombed areas throughout the year. The villages of Dibis, Xalidiyê, Hoşan, Mialeq, Mişerfe, Cehbel, Fatsa, İmil Beremîl, Sigêro, Safawiyê, Seyda, the M4 international highway and Ain Issa Camp, were also targeted by the Turkish forces and its mercenaries.

Ain Issa is a town in the Girê Spi district of Raqqa. The town has a strategic importance in the region due to its geographical location. The road to Kobanê and Sirine passes through this town, which connects Raqqa, Manbij and Til Temir (Tal Tamr).

This area is located near the highly significant international M4 highway and connects the city of Aleppo, Hesekê, Qamishli and Til Koçer border crossings to the Iraqi border.

The villages of Hoşan, Xalidiyê and Dibis are located near the M4 highway in the west of Ain Issa and have a dominant position over the road. Located in the west of Ain Issa, the Mialeq village is 2 km away from the M4 highway which leads to Ain Issa, Sirîn and Kobanê. Due to this location, it has strategic importance. The Seyda village overlooks the Ain Issa town due to its altitude and location, 2 km away from Ain Issa downtown. The villages of Mişerfe and Cehbel are located near the M4 highway leading to Til Temir, east of Ain Issa. In the event that these two villages are besieged, the town of Ain Issa could be completely surrounded.

The villages of Fatsa, Mubarek, Safawiyê, Umil Beremiyê, Şirkê, El Mesûdiyê, Şergirak are also located near the theM4 highway in the east of Ain Issa. South Tilweziyê and East Tilweziyê in the east of Ain Issa are also near the M4 road.

The reason why the Turkish army and its mercenaries specifically target these villages is because they overlook strategic road lines. The Turkish forces want to cut off the road between Kobanê, Sirîn and Ain Issa from the west, including the road connection to Til Temir, that is, the Cizire region, from the east. Furthermore, the Turkish forces want to take the town of Ain Issa completely under its control.

The villages of Erîda, Zenûbiya, Bir Zinara Ereban and Bir Zinara Kurdan, Xirbit Beqir, Firîan, Hêmir, Qiz Elî, Leqleqo and Qiz Elî wheat warehouses which are located in the south of Girê Spî are also constantly targeted by the Turkish forces. If these villages are occupied, Kobanê will end up surrounded.

CIVILIANS TARGETED ON PURPOSE

The Turkish army and its mercenaries have specifically targeted the civilian settlements and fields in the villages of Ain Issa and Girê Spî. The main purpose of the Turkish state is to evacuate these villages and expand its occupation in the region.

A total of 13 civilians, including 5 children, were killed and 27 civilians were injured in the attacks of the invading Turkish army against the region in 2021. Among the injured are 7-month-old and 1-year-old babies, and 4 children aged 12 and 11.

The names of the civilians killed by the invading Turkish army throughout 2021 are as follows: Mecid İbrahim El Ewid (35), Ronî Bakûr Mihemmed (33), Ehmed İbrahim El Rehim (12), İmen Salih El Semea (21), Mihemmed Himedi El Mahmud Himedi El Xelil (13), Zeyd Xelef El Îsa (54), Ziyad Zeyd Xelef (12), Huda Zeyd Xelef (9), Muna Zeyd Xelef (7), Malik El Miharib El Hemid (25), Eydan Hemed El Imeyri (40), Xemus El Piseyli (17), Mihemmed El Xinês El Cerbû (35).

The names of the civilians injured as a result of the Turkish attacks are as follows: Kusey El Hesen (23), Latif El Şedat (45), Fehet El Shewax (55), Ebilrehim Mihemmed El Hemed (12), Zehra Salih El Semea (18), Necib İbrahim Hemid (25), Emine Necib (7 months old), Ezize Çixêdim (45), Mihemmed Hesen El Mihemmed (39), Evdilkerim Şeleş (47), Eziz Şewket Bozan (35), Sîdra Zeyd Xelef (1 year old), Xitam Hilal El Şehber (35), Mîzêr İsmail El İsa (25), Şiyar İbrahim El İsa (23), Eyhem Ömer Ehmed (25), Reşid Hesen El Xelef (11), Yasir Yusuf Heco (28), Zeynep Mihemmed El Şerif (30), Mihemmed Şerif El Ewed (83), Turfa Miryî Neşî (43), Mihemmed Feyz El Melfî (20), Hisên Mihemmed Ebid (20), Hafid Eli Nayîf (32), Mîmatî Ehmed İbrahim (28), Ebdilxenîn Mûsa El Debul (21), Lokman Feysal Sûphi (20).