Human Rights Watch: Apparent war crimes committed by Turkey-backed groups in Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that it documented potential war crimes committed by Turkey-backed forces in Syria, citing their poor human rights record in the region.

HRW identified a Turkish drone strike targeting a Kurdish Red Crescent ambulance as a possible war crime. The vehicle was transporting two injured individuals who had been wounded by Turkish shelling during a demonstration in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the Tishrin Dam, south of Kobane.

In response to the escalating violence, the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) issued an urgent appeal, calling on the international community to intervene and halt Turkish military attacks. The statement emphasized the increasing number of civilian casualties and urged Turkey to comply with international law, cease its military operations, and respect existing ceasefire agreements.

The ongoing Syrian crisis was also the focus of a session in the European Parliament, where political representatives and experts convened to discuss the situation. Abdul Karim Omar, the European Representative of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES), accused Turkey of targeting civilians through drone strikes and committing war crimes.

Omar also urged global powers to act, warning of the absence of a clear political and constitutional vision in Syria’s new leadership, which complicates efforts to stabilize the country.

According to the DAARNES Health Authority, Turkish attacks have resulted in 41 deaths and 239 injuries among civilians, underscoring the heavy toll on local populations.