The New Arab Staff
30 April, 2023
Syria's Kurdish-led forces have warned that a shortage in food and an internet outage could cause a 'catastrophe' in two Aleppo neighbourhoods besieged by the Assad regime.
The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AANES) has warned that a potential humanitarian catastrophe could unfold in Kurdish neighbourhoods of the northern city of Aleppo as a result of a siege imposed by regime forces.
AANES, which controls most of Syria's territory east of the Euphrates River and is also known as Rojava, says neighbourhoods under its control in Aleppo are witnessing a shortage of food supplies and the collapse of telecommunications services.
The administration’s environment, economy and agriculture departments have warned that the siege is quickly developing into a humanitarian crisis.
The Syrian regime's Fourth Division tightened an existing siege on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh – the only two neighbourhoods in the city under the control of AANES – in mid-December.
"The ongoing siege of the AANES-aligned neighbourhoods...has led to an almost untenable situation for the people there," Jamie Parks, researcher at the Rojava Information Centre (RIC), told The New Arab.
"Temporary embargoes, regularly imposed by the Syrian army, restrict the entry of basic necessities such as flour for bakeries, baby food, fuel, and medicines to the isolated pocket of mainly Kurdish residents," Parks said.
The RIC said the situation had further deteriorated since the devastating February 6 earthquake which struck large swathes of southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, saying vital aid to affected regions - including Aleppo - was being delayed and used as a bargaining chip by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The latest siege began in August last year, but there have been blockades before, and local statistics indicate that about 25,000 civilians live in the two areas.
Limited quantities of food, medicine and building supplies used to be allowed in but at high cost.
It is widely believed that the regime has imposed the siege to turn the population against AANES and its de facto military arm, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and pressure Kurdish-led authorities to surrender the neighbourhoods to the regime.
Syria's regime does not recognise AANES and accuses it of separatism.
Backed by Russia and Iran for years, the regime has regained control of much of Syrian territory, while other parts of the country are controlled by the hardline Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or other armed factions backed by Turkey.
Russian intervention in Syria 91 months on | Six joint patrols with the Turks and ongoing suspension of anti-ISIS operations in Syrian desert
On Apr 30, 2023
At a time when Russia’s plans are proceeding with their 91st consecutive month of involvement in the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored and tracked the recent developments during the first month of the eighth year of the Russian intervention in Syria. This month has experienced subsiding activity by Russian forces in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Key developments can be summarized regionally as follows:
North-west Syria
In “Putin-Erdogan” area, SOHR activists documented no airstrikes by Russian fighter jets or any other event related to Russian forces in the past month.
North-east Syria
In the past month, Russian and Turkish forces conducted six joint patrols, four of which were in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in Aleppo province and two in Al-Darbasiyyah countryside in Al-Hasakah province. Here are further details:
April 3: Russian and Turkish forces ran a joint patrol which comprised four military vehicles of each side, escorted by two Russian helicopters. The patrol set off from Gharib village in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside, and toured Qarah Mogh, Jishan Kharabisan Tahtani and Baghdik, and headed towards Khana “banderkhan” village in the western countryside of Tel Abyad, then turned back to its position in Sarin town in the southern countryside of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani).
April 6: Russian and Turkish forces ran a joint patrol in the northern countryside of Al-Hasakah. The patrol, which comprised four military vehicles of each side escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from the crossing of Sherik village in the western countryside of Al-Derbasiyah, and toured the villages of the western and southern countryside of Al-Derbasiyah, and reached the western countryside of Amuda north of Al-Hasakah, passing by Dalik, Salam Alykum, Qunaitrah, Qaramanieh, Tel Kedish, Ghanamiyah, Kar Bateli, Jadidah, Te Tairi, Tel Karmah, Abu Jaradi, Duwairah, Khaski, Khanki, Kharzah and Buhayrah villages, before returning back to the set off point.
April 10: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol today in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from Ashma village and toured the villages of Jarqali Foqani, Qarran, Dikmidash, Kharkhouri, Boban, Joul Bek, Tel Sha’ir, Sousan, Qoula, Qarrah, Qawa Tahtani, Bayander, Mashko, Jabnah, Jarqali Foqani, before returning to the starting point.
April 17: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from Ghareeb village in eastern Kobani and toured the villages of Qarrah Mough, Jayshan, Kharabisan Tahtani, Baghdik along the way to Khanah village in west Tel Abyad countryside, before returning to the starting point passing through the villages of Baghdik, Kharabisan Tahtani, Houlaqiyah, Tallak and Bozatbah.
April 20: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol in the western countryside of Al-Hasakah and Abu Rasin countryside in northern Al-Hasakah. The patrol, which was escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from the crossing in Sherik village and toured the villages of Dalik, Malak, Abbas, Aliyah, Zahr Al-Arab, Kisra, Hiliwa, Ibrahimiya and Arradah, before returning to the starting point.
April 26: Russian military police ran a joint patrol with the Turkish forces in the western countryside of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight Russian and Turkish military vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from “Ashma” village, 20 km west of (Kobani), and toured “Jaraqli Foqani, Jebnah and Bayadiyah” villages and reached “Zor Maghar” village which is located off Jarablus city on the eastern bank of Euphrates and is the last village west of Kobani. After reaching “Zor Maghar” village, the patrol turned back east and passed by “Bayadiyah, Jebnah, Meshko, Beindar, Qaraqoy Tahtani, Qola and Sousan” villages and reached the checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” near Al-Iza’ah west of (Kobani). The patrol turned back to the set off point in Ashma village, passing by “Seftik, Bouban, Khorkhory, Dikmadash, Qaran and Jaraqly Foqani” villages.
On the other hand, Russian forces ran a patrol on April 15 in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in eastern Aleppo in an inspection tour. According to SOHR sources, six vehicles set off from Sarin airport and headed to the Russian base in Mashtour mountain, passing through the 48th street.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted on April 13 between members of the Russian-backed 5th Corps and members of Syrian Democratic Forces in Al-Tabiyah and Jadidat Ekaydat towns in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The clashes left a member of the 5th Corps dead and several SDF members injured. According to SOHR sources, a member of the SDF-backed Self-Defence Forces killed a member of the 5th Corps, while the 5th Corps members reacted by killing the “murderer” and maintaining his body in their custody, which led to the eruption of clashes between the two sides. In this context, a Russian convoy headed to Al-Tabiyah town to break up clashes. However, tension and high alert continued in the region. It is worth noting that this is the first incident of its kind, as these are the first calashes ever to erupt between the 5th Corps and SDF.
While on April 20, SOHR sources reported the arrival of a Russian military patrol escorted by three pick-up trucks of the regime’s military intelligence branch in Al-Mayadeen city, “the capital of Iranian-backed militias in west Euphrates region,” in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, the patrol headed to the military intelligence station in the city to investigate the stealing of ammunitions from the station and selling them. On the other hand, Iranian-backed militias continued investigations of a similar robbery for a couple of days in one of their military headquarters in the city.
Syrian desert
In the 91st month of Russian military operations in Syria, SOHR activists document “timid” aerial operations by Russian forces in the Syrian desert, despite the considerable escalation of bloody operations by ISIS which killed 38 civilians and 46 members of regime forces and their proxy militias.
Between the 30th of September 2015 and the 30th of April 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of 21,123 persons. The breakdown of fatalities is as follows:
8,697 civilians: 2,112 children under the age of eighteen, 1,321 females over the age of eighteen, 5,264 men and young people
6,201 ISIS members
6,225 fighters of rebel and Islamic Factions, Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamic Turkestani Party, and fighters of Arab and foreign nationalities.
SOHR sources have reported that Russia used “Thermite-type explosives” in their airstrikes, a substance composed of aluminium powder and iron oxide which causes burns as it continues to ignite for about 180 seconds; some bombs used by Russian jets on the Syrian territory were loaded with this substance.
It has been discovered that they are “RBK-500 ZAB 2.5 SM” cluster incendiary bombs each weighing about 500 kg (about 1100 pounds (ca. 499 kilograms)) and they were dropped by military aircraft. They carried anti-individuals and anti-vehicles small-sized bombs of the type (AO 2.5 RTM), loaded with 50 to 110 small-sized bombs stuffed with “Thermite”, which outpour out of it when they explode; the range of these anti-individuals and anti-vehicles bombs reaches 20 to 30 metres.
As the months pass, the Syrians suffer the scourge of the Russian intervention, which seems to resemble a kind of revenge and retaliation against Syrians for protesting against the regime that committed the worst violations against its own people. At a time when the map of alliances and power balances is changing, Russia has become the ultimate winner, succeeding in helping the Syrian regime regaining control over about two-thirds of the country after losing control of most of its territory. Moscow used the pretext of “the war on terror” to commit massacres against civilians, and sponsored and struck agreements that were soon after abandoned. Moscow and its war machine have spilled the blood of Syrians despite claiming to be a “political mediator” or “broker” that can deal with all parties to the conflict.
With all recent changes in the balance of powers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renews its appeals to the international community to put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression against the Syrians, and to find a political solution to end the Syrian crisis that completed its eleventh year.
On Apr 30, 2023
At a time when Russia’s plans are proceeding with their 91st consecutive month of involvement in the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored and tracked the recent developments during the first month of the eighth year of the Russian intervention in Syria. This month has experienced subsiding activity by Russian forces in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Key developments can be summarized regionally as follows:
North-west Syria
In “Putin-Erdogan” area, SOHR activists documented no airstrikes by Russian fighter jets or any other event related to Russian forces in the past month.
North-east Syria
In the past month, Russian and Turkish forces conducted six joint patrols, four of which were in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in Aleppo province and two in Al-Darbasiyyah countryside in Al-Hasakah province. Here are further details:
April 3: Russian and Turkish forces ran a joint patrol which comprised four military vehicles of each side, escorted by two Russian helicopters. The patrol set off from Gharib village in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside, and toured Qarah Mogh, Jishan Kharabisan Tahtani and Baghdik, and headed towards Khana “banderkhan” village in the western countryside of Tel Abyad, then turned back to its position in Sarin town in the southern countryside of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani).
April 6: Russian and Turkish forces ran a joint patrol in the northern countryside of Al-Hasakah. The patrol, which comprised four military vehicles of each side escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from the crossing of Sherik village in the western countryside of Al-Derbasiyah, and toured the villages of the western and southern countryside of Al-Derbasiyah, and reached the western countryside of Amuda north of Al-Hasakah, passing by Dalik, Salam Alykum, Qunaitrah, Qaramanieh, Tel Kedish, Ghanamiyah, Kar Bateli, Jadidah, Te Tairi, Tel Karmah, Abu Jaradi, Duwairah, Khaski, Khanki, Kharzah and Buhayrah villages, before returning back to the set off point.
April 10: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol today in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from Ashma village and toured the villages of Jarqali Foqani, Qarran, Dikmidash, Kharkhouri, Boban, Joul Bek, Tel Sha’ir, Sousan, Qoula, Qarrah, Qawa Tahtani, Bayander, Mashko, Jabnah, Jarqali Foqani, before returning to the starting point.
April 17: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from Ghareeb village in eastern Kobani and toured the villages of Qarrah Mough, Jayshan, Kharabisan Tahtani, Baghdik along the way to Khanah village in west Tel Abyad countryside, before returning to the starting point passing through the villages of Baghdik, Kharabisan Tahtani, Houlaqiyah, Tallak and Bozatbah.
April 20: Turkish and Russian forces ran a joint patrol in the western countryside of Al-Hasakah and Abu Rasin countryside in northern Al-Hasakah. The patrol, which was escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from the crossing in Sherik village and toured the villages of Dalik, Malak, Abbas, Aliyah, Zahr Al-Arab, Kisra, Hiliwa, Ibrahimiya and Arradah, before returning to the starting point.
April 26: Russian military police ran a joint patrol with the Turkish forces in the western countryside of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani). The patrol, which comprised eight Russian and Turkish military vehicles and escorted by two Russian helicopters, set off from “Ashma” village, 20 km west of (Kobani), and toured “Jaraqli Foqani, Jebnah and Bayadiyah” villages and reached “Zor Maghar” village which is located off Jarablus city on the eastern bank of Euphrates and is the last village west of Kobani. After reaching “Zor Maghar” village, the patrol turned back east and passed by “Bayadiyah, Jebnah, Meshko, Beindar, Qaraqoy Tahtani, Qola and Sousan” villages and reached the checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” near Al-Iza’ah west of (Kobani). The patrol turned back to the set off point in Ashma village, passing by “Seftik, Bouban, Khorkhory, Dikmadash, Qaran and Jaraqly Foqani” villages.
On the other hand, Russian forces ran a patrol on April 15 in Ain Al-Arab countryside (Kobani) in eastern Aleppo in an inspection tour. According to SOHR sources, six vehicles set off from Sarin airport and headed to the Russian base in Mashtour mountain, passing through the 48th street.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted on April 13 between members of the Russian-backed 5th Corps and members of Syrian Democratic Forces in Al-Tabiyah and Jadidat Ekaydat towns in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The clashes left a member of the 5th Corps dead and several SDF members injured. According to SOHR sources, a member of the SDF-backed Self-Defence Forces killed a member of the 5th Corps, while the 5th Corps members reacted by killing the “murderer” and maintaining his body in their custody, which led to the eruption of clashes between the two sides. In this context, a Russian convoy headed to Al-Tabiyah town to break up clashes. However, tension and high alert continued in the region. It is worth noting that this is the first incident of its kind, as these are the first calashes ever to erupt between the 5th Corps and SDF.
While on April 20, SOHR sources reported the arrival of a Russian military patrol escorted by three pick-up trucks of the regime’s military intelligence branch in Al-Mayadeen city, “the capital of Iranian-backed militias in west Euphrates region,” in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, the patrol headed to the military intelligence station in the city to investigate the stealing of ammunitions from the station and selling them. On the other hand, Iranian-backed militias continued investigations of a similar robbery for a couple of days in one of their military headquarters in the city.
Syrian desert
In the 91st month of Russian military operations in Syria, SOHR activists document “timid” aerial operations by Russian forces in the Syrian desert, despite the considerable escalation of bloody operations by ISIS which killed 38 civilians and 46 members of regime forces and their proxy militias.
Between the 30th of September 2015 and the 30th of April 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of 21,123 persons. The breakdown of fatalities is as follows:
8,697 civilians: 2,112 children under the age of eighteen, 1,321 females over the age of eighteen, 5,264 men and young people
6,201 ISIS members
6,225 fighters of rebel and Islamic Factions, Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamic Turkestani Party, and fighters of Arab and foreign nationalities.
SOHR sources have reported that Russia used “Thermite-type explosives” in their airstrikes, a substance composed of aluminium powder and iron oxide which causes burns as it continues to ignite for about 180 seconds; some bombs used by Russian jets on the Syrian territory were loaded with this substance.
It has been discovered that they are “RBK-500 ZAB 2.5 SM” cluster incendiary bombs each weighing about 500 kg (about 1100 pounds (ca. 499 kilograms)) and they were dropped by military aircraft. They carried anti-individuals and anti-vehicles small-sized bombs of the type (AO 2.5 RTM), loaded with 50 to 110 small-sized bombs stuffed with “Thermite”, which outpour out of it when they explode; the range of these anti-individuals and anti-vehicles bombs reaches 20 to 30 metres.
As the months pass, the Syrians suffer the scourge of the Russian intervention, which seems to resemble a kind of revenge and retaliation against Syrians for protesting against the regime that committed the worst violations against its own people. At a time when the map of alliances and power balances is changing, Russia has become the ultimate winner, succeeding in helping the Syrian regime regaining control over about two-thirds of the country after losing control of most of its territory. Moscow used the pretext of “the war on terror” to commit massacres against civilians, and sponsored and struck agreements that were soon after abandoned. Moscow and its war machine have spilled the blood of Syrians despite claiming to be a “political mediator” or “broker” that can deal with all parties to the conflict.
With all recent changes in the balance of powers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renews its appeals to the international community to put pressure on Russia to stop its aggression against the Syrians, and to find a political solution to end the Syrian crisis that completed its eleventh year.
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