Rojava Information Center published a report titled ‘Turkey’s war against civilians’.

The report includes:

- strongest evidence yet, including first eyewitness testimony, of the summary execution of three health-workers on 13 October

- evidence of new instances of torture, kidnapping and execution of civilians

- an accompanying database recording over 150 rights violations substantiated by video, photographic or eyewitness evidence

- scores of interviews with locals, including those who have returned to the zone of occupation, shedding new light on systematic looting, extortion and property crime

The report identifies trends including the targeting and execution of civilians attempting to return to their property, indiscriminate shelling well outside the supposed zone of operations, and members of Turkish-backed factions demanding ransom for the return of civilian corpses to their families. It includes a blow-by-blow account of the execution of three health workers in Suluk on 13 October, as well as a time line of systematic attacks on medical infrastructure and staff throughout the invasion.

Drawing on interviews with those who have returned to the zone of Turkish control, the report explains how Turkey is trying to impose an information blackout on these areas through violence, arbitrary arrest and intimidation. Nonetheless, RIC are able to present detailed information on the looting of private and public property, businesses and co-operatives.

OSINT research is supported by scores of interviews conducted by RIC field teams: the only survivor of a TFSA attack which killed three civilians, IDPs living without access to drinking water, medical workers targeted in airstrikes, civilians who have lost their homes and livelihoods to looting.

Drawing on all this evidence, the report argues that Turkey’s invasion beginning 9 October and ongoing occupation of 5000KM2 in the Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad regions constitutes a ‘war against civilians’, and calls for an independent, international fact-finding mission into the areas of North and East Syria under both Turkish and Autonomous Administration control.

Download the original report.