Attacks by Turkish drones on northeast Syria, also known as Rojava, are still ongoing, according to Hawar News Agency (ANHA). In this context, ANHA reported that the occupying Turkish forces, along with their affiliated mercenaries, the Syrian National Army (SNA), have been bombarding the areas surrounding the Tishreen Dam with heavy artillery. Additionally, ANHA’s correspondent reported the deployment of a kamikaze drone near the dam, although it resulted in no civilian casualties.
On Thursday 30 January, Turkish warplanes simultaneously launched multiple airstrikes near the Tishreen Dam, southeast of Manbij. Siyamand Ali, on his X account, stated that:
“The Turkish occupation and its mercenaries continue their brutal attacks on northern and eastern Syria. On Thursday, Turkish warplanes launched several airstrikes near the Tishreen Dam, southeast of Manbij, while also subjecting the area to heavy artillery bombardment.” In these attacks, former jihadist mercenaries, including Uzbek nationals, have also been involved.
Siyamand Ali further reported that in retaliation to these assaults, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) successfully neutralised 12 mercenaries, including Uzbek fighters, while 25 others, including three Turkish soldiers, sustained injuries. Furthermore, a Turkish armoured vehicle, five military vehicles, and three motorcycles were either destroyed or severely damaged in the process.
Meanwhile, the unwavering resilience of civilians, despite the relentless drone strikes and the actions of Turkish-backed mercenaries near the Tishreen Dam, remains resolute.
In a powerful act of resistance, civilians from across northeast Syria have initiated a sit-in protest at the dam, aiming to thwart further attacks.
The attacks, however, show no signs of slowing down. According to Kurdish-run health authorities, 24 civilians have been killed and 221 injured due to Turkish drone and air strikes on the dam and its surrounding areas. Kurdish officials accuse Turkey of deliberately targeting ambulances and healthcare workers, as a war crime, with three paramedics among the victims and four ambulances destroyed.
The Democratic Peoples’ Council in the Euphrates Canton condemned Turkey’s attacks on infrastructure in northeast Syria, particularly targeting the Tishreen Dam, which supplies electricity and water to the region. The Turkish assault, using drones, airstrikes, and artillery, threatens the dam’s structural integrity, risking collapse and catastrophic consequences for millions. The statement also highlights Turkey’s broader aim to seize control of Kobani and revive Ottoman imperial ambitions. The council calls for international intervention to prevent further violence against civilians and infrastructure and condemns Turkey’s actions, particularly its targeting of peaceful protesters.
The newly established transitional government in Damascus, backed by jihadist factions, remains determined to reassert control over all of Syria, striving to merge armed groups, including the SDF, into a unified military under its command.
Despite claims from both the al-Sharaa-led authorities in Damascus and the SDF that their differences could be settled through dialogue, reconciliation between Kurdish, secular-democratic forces, and jihadist-backed Turkish groups seems increasingly unlikely. As a result, the Tishreen Dam has become a critical flashpoint in Syria’s shifting political landscape.
More than just a crossing point, the dam is a vital energy source, providing water and electricity to some 400,000 people. Since it was damaged on 10 December, it has been out of service, worsening the hardships of the local population. As one of the few remaining crossing points over the Euphrates, the dam has become central to the ongoing conflict between the SNA and the SDF.
