Northern Aleppo clashes (2024)
| Northern Aleppo clashes (2024) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Syrian civil war and the Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
Protestors Anti-Turkey factions of the Syrian National Army |
 Turkey Pro-Turkey factions of the Syrian National Army | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
5 killed[1] | None | ||||||
| 3 protestors killed, 20 injured[1] | |||||||
On 1 July 2024, violent anti-Turkish riots erupted in Northern Aleppo Governorate, Syria, within areas controlled by Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces. Local protesters and armed militants attacked and set fire to Turkish government buildings, military bases, and Turkish civilians in the region. These clashes followed anti-Syrian riots in Kayseri, Turkey, the previous day.
Background[edit]
Prior to the clashes, tensions between Syrian refugees and Turks had been intensifying in Turkey. The country, which hosts over 3 million Syrian refugees, has faced accusations of discrimination against this population. Furthermore, nearly 30,000 Syrian refugees were forcibly deported from Turkey in 2023 and subjected to inhumane treatment, according to the Syrians for Truth and Justice Institute.[2]
In a speech on 28 June 2024, Turkish President Erdoğan expressed his willingness to restore relations with the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad, inciting anger among the Syrian opposition and refugees.[3][4] On the same day, Turkey reopened the Abu al-Zandin crossing near al-Bab, facilitating commercial connections between Turkish-controlled areas and Syrian government-held territories in the eastern Aleppo countryside.[5] Subsequently, on 30 June 2024, an anti-Syrian pogrom erupted in the Turkish city of Kayseri after a Syrian national was accused of sexually abusing a child. Dozens of Syrian-owned shops and offices were set ablaze, and 14 police officers were injured.[2]
Clashes[edit]
On 1 July 2024, violent riots erupted in Turkish-occupied Northern Syria and the rebel-held Idlib Governorate, where several Turkish military bases are located. In the town of Al-Rai, protesters removed Turkish flags from government institutions and military bases, obstructing the passage of commercial convoys and trucks from Turkey. In the town of Azaz, employees of the Turkish postal service, PTT, were expelled from their offices. Subsequently, armed clashes erupted in Afrin, where gunmen attacked the Turkish military headquarters.[6] At the Syria-Turkey border, militants opened fire on trucks coming from the Turkish border, resulting in the burning of 11 trucks in total.[7] At least three protesters and five militants were killed during the clashes.[1]
On 2 July 2024, Turkey shut down all its border crossings with Syria, including the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, which serves as a trade and transit route for over 3 million people.[8] Additionally, reports emerged of internet and power outages in Syrian opposition-controlled areas.[9]
On 3 July 2024, traffic resumed through the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing after a two day hiatus.[10] In the town of Ras al-Ayn, fighters from the Hamza Division and Ahrar al-Sharqiya, along with local residents, demonstrated against the ongoing attacks on Syrians in Turkey. The former reportedly pulled some of its fighters from the frontline town of Abu Rasin in protest.[11]
Reactions[edit]
Syrian Democratic Forces: Leader, Mazloum Abdi said that, despite differences, Syrians were united by national honor and independence. Abdi condemned the attacks on Syrians in Kayseri, and called for the protection of their lives and dignity. Abdi also welcomed all Syrians who rioted to SDF controlled areas in north and eastern Syria, extending a hand to save the country together.[12]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Death toll update | Eight people killed during clashes between Turkish forces and demonstrators in northern Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Pogrom erupts in Kayseri: Syrian-owned shops torched amid child abuse allegations". Medya News. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ McLean, Scott (2 July 2024). "Turkish officials call for calm as social media hysteria fuels anti-Syrian riots". CNN. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Hacaoglu, Selcan (28 June 2024). "Turkey's Erdogan, Syria's Assad Signal Readiness to Restore Ties". Bloomberg. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Under Turkey's watch, tensions simmer in northern Syria". Middle East Eye. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Protesters attack Turkish bases and lower their flags.. Demonstrations against Türkiye expand to include "Hay'at Tahrir" areas" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Protesters burn 11 Turkish trucks in Aleppo". 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman; Butler, Daren (2 July 2024). "Turkey closes Syria border after violence flares in both countries". Reuters. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "What is the status of the crossings with Türkiye after the protests in northwestern Syria?" (in Arabic). Enab Baladi. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "After a two-day hiatus, Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Türkiye resumes traffic" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Rejecting rac*ist campaigns against Syrians | 100 members of "National Army" withdraw from "Peace Spring" frontlines". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Türkiye ve Suriye'deki olaylara ilişkin Mazlum Kobani'den açıklama!". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
