Turkey continued its attacks on civilian settlements in North and East Syria on the evening of 11 January, with an airstrike targeting a family in Mesreb village in Sirrin, south of Kobani (Kobanê). The airstrike, carried out by Turkish warplanes around 6pm local time, claimed the lives of three members of the family and left five others injured.
The dead have been identified as İsmail Husên Mustefa (37), Fatma İsmail Mustefa (12), and Ayşe İsmail Mustefa (13). A baby is among the injured, who are all children.
The strike reduced the family’s home to rubble, leaving the community in shock and mourning. This attack is part of Turkey’s broader campaign of aggression in the Euphrates basin, using drones, airstrikes and proxy forces to target civilian areas. Tens of thousands of residents in the region are mobilising to defend their land against the Turkish-backed mercenary forces known as the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Local authorities and human rights organisations have condemned the attack, describing it as a war crime, and calling for accountability. “This is not just an attack on one family – it is an assault on the people of Rojava and their right to live in peace,” said a representative of Euphrates Region Council.
Residents in North and East Syria are urging the international community to intervene and put pressure on Turkey to halt its military operations in the region. Meanwhile, the people of Rojava vow to continue their resistance, standing firm in their struggle for justice and freedom.
