Turkish airstrikes have ravaged North and East Syria, striking key infrastructure and residential areas, according to a Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) report issued on Tuesday. SOHR reported that since the onset of this aerial offensive, 46 airstrikes have battered the region. Hasakah (Heseke) witnessed 31 attacks, while Kobani endured 15.
Key locations such as a cement distribution centre in Shorok village, a COVID-19 hospital and a prison housing Islamic State (ISIS) detainees were among those hit. Additionally, infrastructure like grain silos, power stations and medical facilities, including a kidney hospital, have suffered damage. In Kobani, Turkish drones targeted a checkpoint, further destabilising the area.
The relentless bombings have not spared civilian life, says SOHR. Eight people lost their lives, including those at a printing press and a fuel distribution centre. Twelve others sustained injuries. The broader impact of these strikes has seen 94 deaths and over 107 injuries since early 2023, including 26 civilians, two of whom were children.
SORH noted that the latest surge in airstrikes has compounded the already dire humanitarian situation in North and East Syria, exacerbating the complexities of the ongoing Syrian conflict. The destruction of essential infrastructure threatens to further destabilise the already fragile region, impacting the lives of countless civilians.