Civilians who had to move out of Afrin due to fascist attacks have sought refuge in the Til Rifat district. There are both Kurdish and regime forces in this area, and in the regime controlled parts the Kurdish victims of the war now face new pressures.

Reports say the regime forces are pressuring the young men and want to conscript them. Those who refuse are arrested. The same method is used in the Afrin city center by Turkish and gang forces. The young men who remained in the city or who wish to go back are forced between two inhumane options: Join the FSA, or go to prison.

HISTORIC CITY OF TIL RIFAT

Til Rifat has constantly been targeted in the Syrian civil war. This city has historic significance, and is located in the Simeon Mountain area. It is surrounded with Azaz to the north, Mari to the East, Kefer Naya to the south, Der Cemal and Aqiba to the southwest and Ibbin to the west. It is 20 km from the Turkish border.

Til Rifat has had settlement since the Iron Age. During the Assyrian period, the ancient city of Arpad was built here. With the Syrian war, it has become a target for new attacks. In November 2013, ISIS gangs invaded the city in connection with Turkey. In January 2014, Turkey-backed gangs returned to the city. These were members of the Islamic Front which was mostly made up of the El Fetih Brigade. In January 2016, YPG and Jaysh al-Thuwar forces cleaned the area of gangs. The regime forces entered from the north of Aleppo and advanced up to a few kilometers to Al Rifat.

CITY SAVED BY KURDS TARGETED BY TURKISH ATTACKS

With the city coming under control of Kurdish forces, the Turkish state and the gangs they partner with picked up their attacks again. Combing through news about Til Rifat, it can be seen that the attacks have continued systematically. Before the invasion attacks against Afrin, Til Rifat was bombed by the Turkish army on August 29, 2017. The bombs hit close to the positions taken by Russian soldiers. On the night of July 3, the area between Shehba and Afrin was bombed, which included villages of Til Rifat. Three civilians were killed and eight were wounded. Going back further, on April 27, 2016, the Syrian National Council (SNC) gangs were attacking the area.