Turkish forces launched an aerial attack on the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam on Thursday 16 January, killing several civilians. Ten others have reportedly been injured, according to Kurdish news sources.
Kurdish journalist Renas Sino reported on social media platform X: “The ongoing bombardment poses a severe risk of the dam collapsing, which could lead to the flooding of dozens of villages. Additionally, such a catastrophe would result in a complete power outage across the region, leaving millions without electricity. This escalation endangers both human lives and critical infrastructure, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the area.”
Several civilians have been killed in Turkish army shelling targeting the Tishreen Dam in North and East Syria. The ongoing bombardment poses a severe risk of the dam collapsing, which could lead to the flooding of dozens of villages. Additionally, such a catastrophe would result… pic.twitter.com/pTT0NyEnZD
— Renas Sino | ريناس سينو (@RenasSino) January 16, 2025
Another Kurdish reporter, Dilovan Asmin, posted that “the occupying Turkish state had targeted the civilian convoy again”, in the same place where civilians had been targeted yesterday.
Reporter Dilovan Asmin from the scene,
She reported that the occupying Turkish state had targeted the civilian convoy again at the Tishrin Dam. The occupying Turkish state targeted civilians in the same place once again yesterday. https://t.co/HGdow8nP2U pic.twitter.com/CMtiLW3Ld4— Rozwar (@Rojwar7288) January 16, 2025
Farhad Shami, media spokesperson for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated: “We hold the Turkish Occupation fully responsible for any serious repercussions affecting the Tishreen Dam. For the second day in a row, Turkish warplanes and UCAVs [Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles] have targeted peaceful sit-ins near the Tishreen Dam, south of Manbij, where civilians have been demanding an end to the attacks of the Turkish occupation and its mercenary factions.”
“The attacks on the Tishreen Dam have resulted in the martyrdom of six civilians and dozens injured, constituting a clear international crime committed by the Turkish occupation state. While we condemn these criminal and barbaric attacks, we hold the Turkish occupation state and its President, Erdoğan, directly accountable for any severe and catastrophic consequences to the structural integrity of the dam caused by these airstrikes that have inflicted significant damage on the dam,” Shami continued.
On 15 January, four more civilians were killed when a deadly Turkish double attack hit a convoy heading to a sit-in, intended to protect the dam. The sit-in is ongoing, despite the attacks. Its aim is to protect this vital piece of infrastructure, the water and electricity supply of the whole of Syria, and to support the resistance of the SDF.
Today’s strike marks the sixth attack on civilians near or at the Tishreen Dam since 8 January. Turkish warplanes have previously struck an ambulance, and three protesters were killed last week while en route to a demonstration.
The Tishreen Dam has been the site of fierce fighting between the SDF and the Turkish backed Syrian National Army (SNA). At least 365 SNA mercenaries have been killed by the SDF, and many more wounded in the fighting over the dam and the nearby Qara Quzak (Qere Qozaq) Bridge since the SNA attacked on 8 December.
The SDF are calling for the international community to “end its silence regarding these ongoing Turkish crimes”.
