A recent report presented by the Lead Inspector General to the United States Congress reveals that Turkey’s drone attacks against top figures of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in both Iraq and Syria have complicated efforts to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and hinder the broader aim of achieving regional stability.
The document details Turkey’s active unmanned aerial system (UAS) strikes against SDF leaders in both nations. Ankara justifies these attacks, claiming that there is affiliation between these SDF leaders and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Initiated in 2014, the Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) mission seeks to defeat ISIS and foster regional stability. Yet interventions by third-party forces, including Turkey, Iran, Russia and the Syrian regime, amplify risks and divert the focus from these core objectives, according to the report.
Turkey-supported opposition groups and human rights abuses
The report devotes considerable space to the activities and human rights abuses committed by Turkey-supported opposition (TSO) groups in the region. The range of abuses, from extortion to severe human rights violations, highlights the challenges faced by civilians, especially vulnerable groups like women, in areas controlled by the TSOs.
During the reported quarter, the US State Department indicated that most TSO groups continued their recruitment and payment of fighters, some of whom were former members of ISIS. These groups reportedly funded their activities through extortion from civilians at checkpoints. They threatened to or actually carried out actions to detain, physically abuse, rape or even kill individuals or their family members. The TSO groups maintained control over most revenue-generating activities in northwestern Syria and carried out their illicit activities with impunity. This included reportedly providing safe passage for ISIS members through areas under their influence.
Furthermore, according to reports from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), TSO groups in northern Syria continued to commit human rights abuses, specifically targeting Kurdish and Yazidi residents and other civilians. These abuses, as detailed in the US Department of State’s 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Turkey, included unlawful killings, physical abuse, sexual violence, disappearances, unjust detention and kidnapping for ransom. Other reported abuses were looting, seizure of private property and the transfer of detained civilians across the border into Turkey.
In addition, many TSO groups propagated rumours that women’s empowerment and gender-related activities went against religious and societal norms. This has had a detrimental impact on women’s civic participation. Women faced harassment if they attempted to become politically active, engage in civil society organisations or seek justice. Syrian women reported in April that women in TSO-controlled areas faced intense discrimination and criticism when they engaged in political and civil society efforts, with the criticism coming from various groups in northwestern Syria, including TSO groups.
Iraq
The report also underlines Turkey’s military operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which have significantly impacted its rural inhabitants and drawn concern from both international observers and local communities.
Notably, the report quotes SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdi regarding a significant incident on 7 April. On that day, a Turkish drone strike near Sulaymaniyah International Airport in Iraq narrowly missed him. The attacks against the SDF were “in part related to the Turkish presidential elections and in part because Türkiye was unhappy with the ‘recently strengthened’ relations between the SDF and forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, which [Abdi] said was unifying Kurdish forces,” the report highlights.
The report notes that Turkey has closed its airspace to flights to or from Sulaymaniyah airport, affecting regional connectivity and diplomacy, and consequently exacerbating regional tensions.
The document also highlights Turkey’s frequent aerial assaults on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliates in Iraq. The PKK, long in conflict with Turkey, is facing intensified targeting. Moreover, Turkey’s airstrikes against the Yazidi-based Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) in Iraq, due to alleged ties with the PKK, are also noted.
The report highlights several areas of concern regarding the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraq. The Kurdish Security Forces (KSF), despite ongoing engagement with Coalition advisors, have shown limited progress in training. Notably, the most effective counter-ISIS capabilities remain with politically aligned units, which the US avoids directly advising due to their affiliations.
Russia and Iran
The report mentions Russia’s breach of deconfliction protocols and threats from Iran-aligned militias against the US presence in Iraq, adding to the mission’s intricacy. However, Turkey’s actions remain the focus of the report, considering the SDF’s crucial role in combating ISIS and Turkey’s position as a NATO ally, and it receives more mentions in the report than either of the other countries, and nearly twice as many as Russia.
