The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on 10 December accused Turkish intelligence of using fabricated videos to justify military campaigns that led to massacres in northern Syria. The footage, reportedly first circulated by Turkish media in November 2019, allegedly depicted staged scenes of civilians tortured by SDF forces to legitimise the Turkish army’s invasions of Tel Abyad (Girê Spî) and Ras al-Ayn (Serê Kaniyê).
“This footage was created to justify the Turkish army’s massacres and occupation of our lands,” said Farhad Shami, Director of the SDF Media Centre, in a statement. The SDF urged vigilance, describing the the tactics as an attempt to incite division among the region’s multi-ethnic population.
The accusations come amid renewed clashes between SDF fighters and Turkish-backed mercenaries in Manbij (Minbîc), as shared by Shami in a social media post highlighting ongoing “qualitative operations” by SDF forces.
#منبج
قواتنا تواصل عملياتها النوعية ضد مرتزقة الاحتلال التركي في منبج
Footage shows the qualitative operations of our forces against the Turkish occupation-backed mercenaries in Manbij pic.twitter.com/4jXd7yEKCw— Farhad Shami (@farhad_shami) December 10, 2024
The alleged propaganda underscores the broader tensions between Kurdish forces and Turkish military operations in the region, raising concerns over the role of misinformation in escalating conflicts. Shami’s statement included a direct reference to the videos, posted on a Turkish news site, which he claimed were staged by Turkish intelligence to advance political aims.
