SDF Accuses Turkey of Violating De-Escalation Agreements

Clock Square Roundabout in the center of Raqqa city in northern Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Clock Square Roundabout in the center of Raqqa city in northern Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SDF Accuses Turkey of Violating De-Escalation Agreements

Clock Square Roundabout in the center of Raqqa city in northern Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Clock Square Roundabout in the center of Raqqa city in northern Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces revealed on Monday the outcome of the attacks of the Turkish army and its pro-Syrian armed factions on its areas during the first half of January 2022.

According to the released data, one civilian was killed and dozens were injured in 225 different attacks, while thousands were displaced from the countryside of Aleppo, Raqqa and Hasakeh governorates.

An SDF military official accused Turkey of violating all the international understandings and agreements concluded on the de-escalation in northeast Syria and committing many crimes against civilians.

The SDF said in a statement published on its official website on Monday that the Turkish army reconnaissance drones violated the airspace of Ain al-Arab (Kobani) city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo 20 times and the area between Kobani and Sirrin town, which overlooks the Euphrates River, four times.

The Turkish bombardment injured 12 civilians, including three children, killed one civilian, and led to the amputation of the foot of a child from Qarmough village, east of Kobani.

Head of the SDF Media Center Farhad Shami said the Turkish official media and army statements have distorted the facts to show that the civilians who were martyred and wounded were fighters in the ranks of the SDF forces and claimed they were killed during the clashes.

“Yet, the truth is that they are civilians who were injured during the barbaric Turkish bombardment.”

In late 2019, Ankara concluded de-escalation agreements in the areas east of the Euphrates with Washington and Moscow, and the Syrian parties cowed to commit to their implementation on the ground.

However, since then, the area saw military escalation and were bombed by Turkish artillery and rocket launchers from their bases in the areas of their operations “Peace Spring”, “Euphrates Shield” and “Olive Branch.” No significant field progress was made.

Turkish artillery, tank shells and rocket launchers shelled villages west of the Tal Abyad city in the northern countryside of Raqqa governorate, the statement added.

Ain Isa camp and the vicinity of M4 Highway along with eight other villages were bombarded, wounding three civilians.

“In the northern countryside of Hasakeh, 12 villages, which administratively follow Tel Tamr, were hit.

“Zarkan town and four of its villages were also shelled leaving material damage,” the statement read.



Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 1 Building Destroyed

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 1 Building Destroyed

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Powerful Israeli airstrikes targeted central Beirut on Saturday, resulting in a large number of fatalities and injuries and destroying an eight-story building, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Footage broadcast by TV stations showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it in the Basta neighborhood.

Israel used bunker buster bombs in the strike, leaving a deep crater, said NNA. Beirut smelled strongly of explosives hours after the attack.
The blasts shook the capital around 4 a.m.

NNA said at least five bombs were dropped in the attack.
It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, where the bulk of Israel's attacks have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

On Sunday an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

The Israeli military did not issue a warning for Basta's residents to evacuate prior to the strike and did not immediately issue a statement on it.

Israel has killed several Hezbollah leaders in airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, heavy ground fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants was ongoing in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops have pushed farther from the border.