The Rojava Information Center (RIC) has released a second detailed report on the new Turkish round of airstrikes against Northern and Eastern Syria.
The new attacks hit power infrastructure, damaging electricity and oil stations already battered by previous raids, injuring 6 civilians.
Suwaydiyah gas and electricity station, Odeh, Zarba, Rimelan, and Gir Dahol oil stations, the electricity stations of Qamishlo, Amude, Kobane, Tirbespi and Ayn Issa are the key targets. Turkey carries out 10 airstrikes on Suwaydiyah alone.
Widespread water and electricity cuts are reported and the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (DAANES) urges strict water rationing. Furthermore, Turkey bombs numerous Asayish (Internal Security Forces) checkpoints across the region. Grain storage warehouses, food production factories and civilian houses are also among the targets.
In particular, RIC wrote that “Turkey has conducted over 10 airstrikes on NES’ crucial gas and electricity facility, Suwaydiyah, which produces around half of Jazira canton’s electricity, plus supplies its emergency line, ensuring 24/7 power for essential services. Suwaydiyah feeds over 20 substations in the Jazira canton with electricity, supplying all downstream infrastructure including water stations, hospitals and bakeries. Furthermore, multiple oil pumping and refining stations in the Jazira canton rely on electricity from Suwaydiyah. It is also NES’ only domestic gas bottling plant.”
RIC continued: “Turkish targeting of the Rimelan power station threatens the electricity supply necessary for the functioning of oil and gas fields across the Jazira region, which provide fuel and gas for household, industrial, and commercial use across NES.
The DAANES said that Turkish strikes on oil facilities have reduced fuel supply to the energy, water, agricultural and heating sectors. Turkey is repeatedly targeting the same key power infrastructure and the scale of the damage greatly outweighs the capacity of the DAANES to restore essential services to civilians.”
In addition, RIC underlined the followin:
“-With 7 key electricity stations rendered inoperable from Turkish strikes, water station operations are curtailed, impeding safe water access. Many water pumps in the region have no secondary generator to supply backup electricity when the general supply is cut. In Tirbespi, 13 of its 21 pumps have no secondary supply. In Amude, this figure is 12 of 16 and in Qamishlo, 7 of 13. The DAANES has urged people to strictly ration their water. Without pumped water, civilians are forced to rely on prohibitively expensive trucked water.
-All of NES’ major cities witnessed demonstrations as people took to the streets to protest Turkey’s attacks.
-In Darbasiyah, a Russian patrol through the city was blocked after residents closed the road, demanding Russia – as a guarantor power in the region – intervene to stop Turkey’s attacks.”
Over Christmas, Turkey once again hit Odeh and Saida oil stations, and then proceeded to expand its strikes to target food packaging factories, warehouses, industrial sites, medical facilities and civilian homes. In addition, Turkey hit a string of Asayish checkpoints across NES. 11 civilians were killed and 25 injured.
