2. September 2021

Kurzbeschreibungen zu den in dieser Anfragebeantwortung verwendeten Quellen sowie Ausschnitte mit Informationen aus diesen Quellen finden Sie im Anhang.

Kontrolllage in Abu Rasain – Präsenz kurdischer Einheiten

Das UN Flüchtlingshochkommissariat (UNHCR) beschreibt im März 2021, dass sich die kurdischen Truppen der Demokratischen Kräfte Syriens (SDF) und der Volksverteidigungseinheiten (YPG) gemäß einer Absichtserklärung zwischen Russland und der Türkei vom 22. Oktober 2019 aus den türkischen Grenzgebieten zurückgezogen hätten. Die Türkei und ihre Verbündeten hätten die volle Kontrolle über ein 120 km langes und 30 km breites Gebiet zwischen Ras Al-Ain und Tal Abiyad erhalten. Gleichzeitig habe die syrische Regierung Truppen in Gebiete entsandt, die zuvor von SDF/YPG gehalten worden seien. Darüber hinaus würden russisch-türkische Streitkräfte entlang der Grenze östlich und westlich des nun türkischen Gebiets patrouillieren. (UNHCR, März 2021, S. 37)

Laut North Press Agency (NPA) befinde sich Abu Rasain (auch Abu Rasin, Abu Rassin, Abu Rasen, Ebû Rasên, Abu Racine, Zargan, Zirgan oder Zarkan genannt bzw. geschrieben, Anm. ACCORD) an der Frontlinie der türkischen Kräfte und ihrer Verbündeten und werde von den kurdischen Sicherheitskräften (Asayish) bewacht. Die regimenahen syrischen Grenzschutzkräfte seien zusammen mit den SDF und unter russischer Schutzherrschaft an der Frontlinie stationiert. Im Oktober 2019 habe die Türkei 25 Dörfer, die administrativ mit Abu Rasin verbunden gewesen seien, besetzt. (NPA, 20. Jänner 2021)

In einem Artikel vom August 2021 berichtet NPA, dass russische Offiziere und Soldaten die Stadt Abu Rasain nach einem türkischen Bombenangriff besucht hätten. Die russischen Truppen seien laut eigenen Angaben anwesend, um Sicherheit und Stabilität zu gewährleisten. (NPA, 18. August 2021)

Präsenz syrischer Einheiten in Abu Rasain

Das Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) schreibt im Mai 2020, dass Soldaten der syrischen Regierung in Abu Rasain stationiert gewesen seien und geplündert hätten, was Bürger·innen zurückgelassen hätten, als sie vor türkischen Bombardements geflüchtet seien (SOHR, 2. Mai 2020).

Im September 2020 berichtet SOHR von anhaltenden Zusammenstößen an der Frontlinie in der Nähe von Abu Rasain zwischen syrischen Regimekräften und den SDF auf der einen Seite und von der Türkei unterstützten Fraktionen auf der anderen Seite (SOHR, 17. September 2020).

Laut des Centers for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR) hätten türkische Truppen und Streitkräfte der Syrischen Nationalarmee die Stellungen der SDF in und um Abu Rasain angegriffen (COAR, 7. Dezember 2020, S. 2).

Es konnten keine aktuelleren Informationen zur Präsenz syrischer Einheiten in Abu Rasain gefunden werden.

Präsenz türkischer Einheiten und ihrer Verbündeten in Abu Rasain

In den Jahren 2020 und 2021 wird von verschiedenen Nachrichtenportalen regelmäßig über Angriffe von türkischen Einheiten und deren Verbündeten in und um Abu Rasain berichtet (siehe: SOHR, 1. April 2020; The Syrian Observer, 2. Juli 2020; ARK News, 22. September 2020; The Syrian Observer, 7. Dezember 2020; COAR, 7. Dezember 2020, S. 2; NPA, 9. Juli 2021; ANF News; 4. August 2021; SOHR, 14. August 2021; Al Mayadeen, 18. August 2021).

Laut ANF News hätten die türkische Armee und ihre Verbündeten Anfang August 2021 ihre Truppenstärke im Umland von Abu Rasain erhöht (ANF News, 4. August 2021; Middle East in 24, 17. August 2021) und es sei zu Bombardements in der ländlichen Gegend von Abu Rasain gekommen (ANF News, 4. August 2021).

SOHR berichtet am 14. August, dass türkische Streitkräfte und ihre Verbündeten SDF-kontrollierte Gebiete in den ländlichen Teilen von Abu Rasain beschossen hätten (SOHR, 14. August 2021).

Middle East in 24 spricht von der Fortsetzung einer Eskalation zwischen der türkischen Armee und ihr loyalen Fraktionen einerseits und den SDF andererseits, die unter anderem in den ländlichen Teilen von Abu Rasain ausgetragen werde. Es gebe Gerüchte über die Absicht der türkischen Armee eine Militäroperation zu starten, um die Kontrolle über neue Gebiete zu erlangen. (Middle East in 24, 17. August 2021)

Al Mayadeen berichtet am 18. August, dass die Stadt Abu Rasain von mehr als 100 Raketen, Artillerie und Mörsergranaten getroffen worden sei, die einen erheblichen Schaden an zivilem Eigentum angerichtet hätten (Al Mayadeen, 18. August 2021).

Situation von Kurd·innen in Abu Rasain

Es konnten im Rahmen der Recherche keine Informationen zur spezifischen Situation der kurdischen Bewohner·innen von Abu Rasain gefunden werden. Die folgenden Quellen befassen sich mit der generellen Situation der Einwohner·innen von Abu Rasain.

SOHR berichtet im April 2020, dass eine Familie im ländlichen Gebiet von Abu Rasain durch die türkischen Kräfte und ihre Verbündeten verletzt worden sei und einige Häuser von Zivilist·innen getroffen worden seien (SOHR, 1. April 2020).

The Syrian Observer berichtet im Dezember 2020, dass die Attacken der türkischen Kräfte, laut einer lokalen Quelle, nicht nur die SDF als Ziel gehabt hätten, sondern auch Bewohner·innen von Abu Rasain und Umgebung (The Syrian Observer, 7. Dezember 2020).

COAR und SOHR berichten zur gleichen Zeit, dass Bewohner·innen aus Angst vor weiterer Eskalation in Abu Rasain ihre Häuser verlassen hätten (COAR, 7. Dezember 2020, S. 2; SOHR, 6. Dezember 2020).

Medya News schreibt im Dezember 2020, dass türkische Streitkräfte und ihre Verbündeten regelmäßig die Autobahn im Abschnitt von Tal Tamer und Abu Rasain angreifen würden. Bewohner·innen der Gegend hätten Angst davor die Straße zu benutzen. Es käme auch zu Angriffen auf Wassertransporter, um die Wasserversorgung zu unterbrechen (Medya News, 4. Dezember 2020).

NPA berichtet in einem Artikel vom Jänner 2021, dass mehr als 70 Prozent der Bewohner·innen Abu Rasain verlassen hätten und aufgrund der regelmäßigen türkischen Attacken Angst hätten zurückzukehren. Aus diesem Grund seien auch die meisten Geschäfte auf dem Markt geschlossen. Bauern der Stadt hätten Angst ihr Land zu bestellen, weil sie befürchten würden, von bewaffneten Oppositionsgruppen beschossen zu werden. (NPA, 20. Jänner 2021)

Middle East in 24 schreibt im August 2021, dass die türkischen Angriffe zu einer Welle der Vertreibung der Bevölkerung aus mehr als zehn Dörfern und Städten aus den Gebieten von Tal Tamr und Abu Rasin geführt habe (Middle East in 24, 17. August 2021).

NPA berichtet zur selben Zeit von einem Protest der Bewohner·innen von Abu Rasain gegen das türkische Bombardement. Laut Demonstrant·innen seien Gebäude zerstört und Kinder verletzt worden (NPA, 18. August 2021).

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 2. September 2021)

·      Al Mayadeen: Turkish Occupation Forces Bombarding Al-Hasakah, 18. August 2021
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/turkish-occupation-forces-bombarding-alhasakah

·      ANF News: Siedlungsgebiete in Til Temir und Zirgan unter Artilleriefeuer, 4. August 2021
https://anfdeutsch.com/rojava-syrien/siedlungsgebiete-in-til-temir-und-zirgan-unter-artilleriefeuer-27655

·      ARK News: Hasaka… Turkish forces shell Abu Rasin (Zarkan) countryside, as SDF members try to infiltrate into Turkish-backed factions’ positions, 22. September 2020
https://www.arknews.net/en/node/23192

·      COAR – Center for Operational Analysis and Research: Syria Update, Weekly Political, Economic, and Security Outlook, Vol. 3, No. 46, 7. Dezember 2020
https://coarglobalprod.wpengine.com/2020/12/07/turkey-pressures-ein-issa-as-the-sdf-pivots-toward-politics/

·      Medya News: Civilians fear gang attacks along the Tell Tamer-Zirgan highway in Syria, 4. Dezember 2020
https://medyanews.net/civilians-fear-gang-attacks-along-the-tell-tamer-zirgan-highway-in-syria/

·      Middle East in 24: Russian efforts to defuse the tension between the Turkish army and “SDF” in the countryside of Hasaka, 17. August 2021
https://middleeast.in-24.com/News/167464.html

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Market of Syria’s Abu Rasin left empty by Turkish attacks, 20. Jänner 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/53279/

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Turkish forces target Syria’s Abu Rasin for third time this week, 9. Juli 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/62067/

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Residents of Syria’s northeast Tel Tamr protest against Russian patrol, 18. August 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/63719/

·      NPA - North Press Agency: Syria’s Hasakah residents protest against frequent Turkish bombardment, 19. August 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/63781/

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Turkish forces and proxy factions’ shelling on rural Abu Rassin leaves several civilians injured, 1. April 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/159064/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_b45457f1f4986fa4af868c63d5135328b6a7d99d-1629019394-0-gqNtZGzNAeKjcnBszQji

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Widespread looting | regime forces and Turkish-backed factions loot public and civilian properties in Abu Rasin and Tal Tamr, 2. Mai 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/162851/

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Al-Hasakah | Clashes continue between regime forces, SDF and Turkish-backed factions nearby Abu Rasin, 17. September 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/184407/?doing_wp_cron=1629313142.4481410980224609375000

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Hasakeh countryside | Civilians flee from Abu Rasin “Zarkan”, as Turkish bombardment continues on the area, 6. Dezember 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/194967/

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Renewed bombardment | Turkish forces sell positions in al-Hasakah countryside, 14. August 2021
https://www.syriahr.com/en/220816/

·      The Syrian Observer: Turkish Forces, Militants Attack Syrian Army Troops in Northeast Syria, 2. Juli 2020
https://syrianobserver.com/news/58963/turkish-forces-militants-attack-syrian-army-troops-in-northeast-syria.html

·      The Syrian Observer: Turkish Forces Launch Heavy Attack in Northeastern Syria, 7. Dezember 2020
https://syrianobserver.com/news/62341/turkish-forces-launch-heavy-attack-in-northeastern-syria.html

·      UNHCR – UN High Commissioner for Refugees: International Protection Considerations with regard to people fleeing the Syrian Arab Republic - Update VI, März 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2049565/606427d97.pdf

 

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

Al Mayadeen ist ein panarabischer Nachrichtensender, der 2012 aus dem Libanon das erste Mal ausgestrahlt wurde.

·      Al Mayadeen: Turkish Occupation Forces Bombarding Al-Hasakah, 18. August 2021
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/turkish-occupation-forces-bombarding-alhasakah

„Field reporters state that town of Abu Rasin was hit by more than 100 rockets, artillery, and mortar shells, causing significant damage to civilian properties.

After five days of military escalation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) in the northwestern countryside of Hasakah, a woman was martyred and ten others were wounded yesterday, Tuesday, as a result of intense artillery and missile shelling by the Turkish army and its loyal factions in the town of Abu Rasin and its countryside.“ (Al Mayadeen, 18. August 2021)

Die Firatnews Agency (kurd. Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firatê, Abk. ANF) ist eine kurdische Nachrichtenagentur. Sie bietet Nachrichten in acht Sprachen an (Kurdisch, Türkisch, Spanisch, Deutsch, Englisch, Arabisch, Russisch und Persisch) und berichtet schwerpunktmäßig über Kurden und die verbotene Arbeiterpartei Kurdistans (PKK). In Medien und bei den deutschen Sicherheitsbehörden gilt die Agentur als PKK-nah.

·      ANF News: Siedlungsgebiete in Til Temir und Zirgan unter Artilleriefeuer, 4. August 2021
https://anfdeutsch.com/rojava-syrien/siedlungsgebiete-in-til-temir-und-zirgan-unter-artilleriefeuer-27655

„Im nordöstlichen Syrien sind am Abend mehre Dörfer von türkisch-dschihadistischen Besatzungstruppen unter Beschuss gesetzt worden. Die Angriffe konzentrieren sich auf Siedlungsgebiete in Til Temir und Zirgan. Auch Positionen von syrischen Regimetruppen sind attackiert worden.

In Til Temir schlugen nach Angaben der in Rojava ansässigen Nachrichtenagentur ANHA mehrere Granaten in den christlich besiedelten Ortschaften Derdara und Til Shanan im Nordosten der Stadt ein. Auch die westlich von Til Temir gelegenen Dörfer Abush und Umm al-Keyf wurden bombardiert. Dort richtete sich der Angriff unter anderem auch gegen Kontrollpunkte der syrischen Armee. Zeitgleich zu den Artillerieangriffen werden die betroffenen Gebiete mit schweren Waffen beschossen. […]

In Zirgan kommt es zur Stunde in den Dörfern Til Werd und Rebîat zu Bombardements durch Besatzungstruppen. Informationen zum Ausmaß der Schäden liegen noch nicht vor, zudem ist weiter unklar, ob Menschen verletzt worden sind.

Im Vorfeld der Angriffe auf Til Temir und Zirgan hatte die türkische Armee weitere Kontingente in ihrer illegalen Besatzungszone zusammengezogen. Seit dem frühen Mittwochmorgen kam es an der siebzehn Kilometer langen Kontaktlinie bei Til Temir zwischen den Demokratischen Kräfte Syriens (QSD) auf der einen Seite und dem dschihadistischen Söldnerverband der Türkei auf der anderen Seite zu intensiven Truppenkonzentrationen und Rüstungstransporten. Die Positionen des an die QSD angeschlossenen Militärrats von Til Temir wurden über Stunden von türkischen Aufklärungsdrohnen überflogen. Auch im Umland der nahegelegnen Gemeinde Zirgan (Ebû Rasên, auch Abu Rasen) bei Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain) wurde die Truppenstärke der türkischen Armee und ihrer SNA-Milizen erhöht. Aus militärischen Kreisen hieß es, dass Stellungen befestigt und Gräben ausgehoben wurden.“ (ANF News, 4. August 2021)

ARK News ist eine pro-kurdische Nachrichtenwebseite, die sich auf kurdische Themen und Nachrichten spezialisiert.

·      ARK News: Hasaka… Turkish forces shell Abu Rasin (Zarkan) countryside, as SDF members try to infiltrate into Turkish-backed factions’ positions, 22. September 2020
https://www.arknews.net/en/node/23192

„SOHR [Syrian Observatory for Human Rights] said that members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out an infiltration attempt into the posts of Ankara-backed factions on the frontlines of the villages of Dada Abdal, Um Ushba, and Maharramla in Abu Racine countryside (Zarkan), north of Hasakah.“ (ARK News, 22. September 2020)

Das Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR) ist eine politische Risiko- und Beratungsorganisation, die den Entwurf und die Umsetzung von humanitären und Entwicklungsprojekten in konfliktbetroffenen Regionen unterstützt.

·      COAR – Center for Operational Analysis and Research: Syria Update, Weekly Political, Economic, and Security Outlook, Vol. 3, No. 46, 7. Dezember 2020
https://coarglobalprod.wpengine.com/2020/12/07/turkey-pressures-ein-issa-as-the-sdf-pivots-toward-politics/

„On 5 December, Turkish troops and Syrian National Army (SNA) forces heavily shelled Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions in and around Ein Issa and Abu Rasin, as Turkey tests the soft boundaries of the Peace Spring area in northeast Syria. […]

The region has been a flashpoint of clashes and frequent shelling by Turkish-backed groups since Turkey gained a foothold in northeast Syria during Operation Peace Spring in October 2019. The recent rise in fighting, coupled with the new Sayda outpost, signals Turkey’s willingness to entrench its forces and escalate to generate further pressure on the SDF. Talk of a major Turkish offensive in the region appears premature, but lower-level escalation will also have consequences for regional mobility, access, and displacement. Already, as many as 200 families have reportedly fled Ein Issa, and others have been displaced from Abu Rasin, fearing further escalation.“ (COAR, 7. Dezember 2020, S. 2)

Das Portal MedyaNews veröffentlicht laut eigenen Angaben Nachrichten über Kurden und andere unterdrückte Völker auf Englisch, um sie einem internationalen Publikum zugänglich zu machen.

·      Medya News: Civilians fear gang attacks along the Tell Tamer-Zirgan highway in Syria, 4. Dezember 2020
https://medyanews.net/civilians-fear-gang-attacks-along-the-tell-tamer-zirgan-highway-in-syria/

„Turkey’s armed forces and its mercenaries are constantly attacking the M4 international highway which cuts through Syria’s most strategic areas and runs parallel with the border with Turkey. Civilians using the Tell Tamer-Zirgan stretch of the highway are worried about their safety because of these attacks, reports Hawar News.

Tell Tamer People’s Municipality member İsa Recep is one of the civilians who has expressed his concerns. He has not been able to travel along the road due to the attacks for some time. Recep adds: ‘To deprive the people of water, gangs are also attacking the water trucks. We are really concerned that massacres will occur on this road. Although Russian and Syrian forces are present in the region, they do nothing to not stop the gang attacks’. He calls upon Russian forces to take action to stop the attacks. ‘We need to safely use the Tell Tamer-Zirgan road’, he notes.“ (Medya News, 4. Dezember 2020)

Middle East in 24 ist eine englischsprachige Nachrichtenwebseite zum Nahen Osten.

·      Middle East in 24: Russian efforts to defuse the tension between the Turkish army and “SDF” in the countryside of Hasaka, 17. August 2021
https://middleeast.in-24.com/News/167464.html

„The continuation of the escalation between the Turkish army and the factions loyal to it on the one hand, and the ‘SDF’ [Syrian Democratic Forces] on the other hand, in the countryside of Hasaka in Syria, and Al-Mayadeen Net sources reveal that ‘the Turkish army and the fighters of the factions loyal to it have brought in extensive military reinforcements.’

Violent Turkish attacks caused a wave of displacement of more than 10 villages and towns in the countryside of Tal Tamr and Abu Rasin in Hasaka

For the fourth day in a row, there is a continuous escalation between the Turkish army and its loyal factions on the one hand, and the ‘SDF’ on the other hand, with the escalation of clashes and shelling, which led to a massive wave of displacement among the people of the villages of Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ain countryside in the northwestern countryside of Hasaka. […]

Violent missile and artillery attacks caused a wave of displacement of more than 10 villages and towns in the rural areas of Tel Tamer and Abu Rasin, with rumors spreading about the Turkish army’s intention to launch a military operation to control new geographic areas in the region.

In this context, a field source confirmed for the fields net The Turkish army and the fighters of the factions loyal to it brought in large-scale military reinforcements to the countryside of Tal Tamr and Abu Rasin, aimed at preventing any infiltration of ‘SDF’ elements towards the areas controlled by the militants and the Turkish occupation.

The source indicated that there are no indications of a large-scale military operation, and that the purpose of the military escalation is to terrorize the people to displace them from their homes.“ (Middle East in 24, 17. August 2021)

North Press Agency ist eine syrische Nachrichtenagentur.

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Market of Syria’s Abu Rasin left empty by Turkish attacks, 20. Jänner 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/53279/

„The town of Abu Rasin (Zargan), 75 km north of Hasakah in northeastern Syria, is witnessing a decline in market movement due to the displacement of the majority of its residents and their fears of returning to it due to repeated Turkish attacks.

Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition groups’ repeated bombardments reached the outskirts of Abu Rasin in late 2019 after attacks on the cities of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad (Gire-Spi) that forced 70% of the town’s residents to move to the cities of Qamishli and Hasakah.

Abu Rasin is located along the front line with Turkish and Turkish-backed forces, and is guarded by the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), while the regime-affiliated Syrian Border Guard forces are deployed along the front line alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces and under Russian auspices.

During its military operation in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad in October 2019, Turkey occupied 25 villages administratively affiliated with Abu Rasin, and large areas of agricultural land fell under the control of the armed opposition groups in addition to the lands that fell on the front lines.

Closed shops

After the displacement of more than 70% of the town’s population, most shops in the market are closed.

Ali Darwish, who owns a grocery store in the town, said, ‘The market movement is too weak; there are very few people in the market, unlike before.’

‘The town hasn’t been targeted for a week. Nobody comes to the market during the bombardment; when there is no shelling, the markets are full of people. There are very few people in the market, unlike before, and buying and selling have stopped,’ Darwish said.

The town of Abu Rasin witnessed intense shelling by the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition groups on December 5, 2020, as Turkish drones flew overhead and launched stun grenades, which caused a state of panic and anticipation among the families that still living in the town.

Empty fields

Within one of the western neighborhoods in the town, Noureddin Muhaimid sits in his aluminum workshop, preferring to stay despite the displacement of most of his neighbors. ‘We live here in our own house. We haven’t got any other place to go, we can’t migrate, and we don’t have any relatives living abroad. We are Armenian, and we settled in Abu Rasin.’

Farmers in the town of Abu Rasin are afraid of cultivating their lands for fear of being shot at by the armed opposition groups, whose posts are one kilometer from the town.“ (NPA, 20. Jänner 2021)

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Turkish forces target Syria’s Abu Rasin for third time this week, 9. Juli 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/62067/

„On Friday, Turkish forces and their armed opposition factions targeted a number of villages in the countryside of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, with heavy weapons.

A local source from the area told North Press that the Turkish army targeted the villages of Dada Abdal and Umm Harmala and surrounding farms in the countryside of Abu Rasin, north of Hasakah, with a barrage of artillery and mortar shells.

According to the source, the bombing resulted in material losses to civilian property.

This is the third time that the Turkish army has targeted the same town this week, as Turkish shelling, on July 4, resulted in the injury of a civilian.

The front lines along more than 60 km north of Hasakah between the Syrian government forces, the Turkish army and the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions witness ocassional mutual targeting.“ (NPA, 9. Juli 2021)

·      NPA – North Press Agency: Residents of Syria’s northeast Tel Tamr protest against Russian patrol, 18. August 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/63719/

„On Wednesday, dozens of residents of the town of Zargan (Abu Rasin), north of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, intercepted Russian soldiers who headed to the town after a bloody Turkish bombardment yesterday.

This morning, Russian officers and soldiers visited the town, who came from their base in the al-Mabaqer station, north of the nearby town of Tel Tamr.

Angry residents of the town intercepted the Russian vehicles on the town’s main street, accusing Russia of colluding with the Turkish army and its silence over the violations of the Turkish army and the affiliated opposition factions.

One of the protesters said that the Russian forces, which announce that they came with the mission of maintaining security and a ceasefire, are silent about the Turkish bombing, ‘which is done after each Russian patrol to the place.’

‘My three young children were injured by the bombing. My house has been destroyed and no one hears us,’ said another protestor.

‘Is my one-and-a-half-month-old child a fighter so that we are bombed like this? The Russians bear these crimes against us,’ he asked.

After a protest that lasted for about an hour on the main street within the town’s market, the Russian officer, who identified himself as ‘Sergey’ to the residents, went on a tour of the houses and shops that had been hit by the bombing and listened to some residents.

The Russian officer said, in response to a protester’s talk about the Turkish bombing and the feasibility of their presence in the region, that they ‘came to ensure security and stability.’“ (NPA, 18. August 2021)

·      NPA - North Press Agency: Syria’s Hasakah residents protest against frequent Turkish bombardment, 19. August 2021
https://npasyria.com/en/63781/

„Yesterday, angry residents of the town Zargan (Abu Rasin), north of Hasakah, intercepted the Russian vehicles on the town’s main street, who were visiting the area bombed by the Turks, accusing Russia of colluding with the Turkish army and its silence over the violations of the Turkish army and the affiliated opposition factions.

For ten days, the Turkish forces and the affiliated opposition factions have escalated their bombardment on the town of Tel Tamr and its countryside, 40 km north of the city of Hasakah, targeting inhabited villages and vital facilities in the area.“ (NPA, 19. August 2021)

Die Syrische Beobachtungsstelle für Menschenrechte (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, SOHR) ist eine in Coventry ansässige unabhängige Menschenrechtsorganisation, die sich auf Angaben von Aktivist·innen und Sanitätspersonal in Syrien stützt.

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Turkish forces and proxy factions’ shelling on rural Abu Rassin leaves several civilians injured, 1. April 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/159064/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_b45457f1f4986fa4af868c63d5135328b6a7d99d-1629019394-0-gqNtZGzNAeKjcnBszQji

„SOHR sources say that a family of four was injured as a result of shelling by Turkish forces and proxy factions on the village of Rabia’at in rural Abu Rassin. Meanwhile, artillery shelling resumes on populated areas.

Turkish forces and proxy factions have shelled today the town of Zarkan and Muharmal village in rural Abu Rassin. Shells fell on civilian homes. No casualties have been reported yet. Tense calm has been prevailing in the area for days.“ (SOHR, 1. April 2020)

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Widespread looting | regime forces and Turkish-backed factions loot public and civilian properties in Abu Rasin and Tal Tamr, 2. Mai 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/162851/

„Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that regime soldiers stationed in Abu Rasin and Tal Tamr towns in Al-Hasakah countryside looted what civilians left behind when they have been forced to leave their areas fleeing the ongoing Turkish shelling on the area. Engines used for extracting underground water and pumping equipment were stolen and sold at less than quarter of their real price.“ (SOHR, 2. Mai 2020)

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Al-Hasakah | Clashes continue between regime forces, SDF and Turkish-backed factions nearby Abu Rasin, 17. September 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/184407/?doing_wp_cron=1629313142.4481410980224609375000

„Syrian Observatory activists have reported ongoing clashes in rural Al-Hasakah between regime forces and SDF on one hand, and Turkish-backed factions on the other. The clashes, which lasted until the early hours of Thursday morning, were concentrated on the frontlines of Bab Al-Khair and Hamadoush nearby Abu Rasin ‘Zarkan’. The clashes were coincided with exchange of shelling, while several families were seen fleeing from the area.“ (SOHR, 17. September 2020)

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Hasakeh countryside | Civilians flee from Abu Rasin ‘Zarkan’, as Turkish bombardment continues on the area, 6. Dezember 2020
https://www.syriahr.com/en/194967/

„The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored the exodus of civilians from the villages and towns of Abu Rasin ‘Zarkan’ to the eastern villages and towns, for fear of Turkish shelling which is increasingly hitting the area during the recent period.“ (SOHR, 6. Dezember 2020)

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Renewed bombardment | Turkish forces sell positions in al-Hasakah countryside, 14. August 2021
https://www.syriahr.com/en/220816/

„Yesterday, SOHR activists reported that Turkish forces and their proxies renewed their bombardment on SDF [Syrian Defence Forces]-held areas in the countryside of Tel Tamr, targeting Tel al-Ward, al-Dirdara, Majebra and Khashman villages in the countryside of Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin in the countryside of al-Hasakah.“ (SOHR, 14. August 2021)

The Syrian Observer ist eine Website, die sich Großteils der Übersetzung von syrischen Nachrichtenartikeln widmet.

·      The Syrian Observer: Turkish Forces, Militants Attack Syrian Army Troops in Northeast Syria, 2. Juli 2020
https://syrianobserver.com/news/58963/turkish-forces-militants-attack-syrian-army-troops-in-northeast-syria.html

„The Turkish military and their allied militants launched a new attack against the Syrian army in northeastern Syria.

According to a field report from northeastern Syria, the Turkish military and their militant allies targeted the army troops in the Abu Rasin region of Hassakeh.“ (The Syrian Observer, 2. Juli 2020)

·      The Syrian Observer: Turkish Forces Launch Heavy Attack in Northeastern Syria, 7. Dezember 2020
https://syrianobserver.com/news/62341/turkish-forces-launch-heavy-attack-in-northeastern-syria.html

„Turkish Armed Forces, alongside their allied militants, launched a powerful attack on northeastern Syria this evening, when their troops targeted the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Abu Rasin area of Hassakeh.

According to a field source in Hassakeh Governorate, the Turkish army launched several artillery shells and rockets toward the SDF’s positions around Abu Rasin; this was followed by heavy rocket fire from the militants of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The source said the attack was unprovoked and did not just target the SDF, but also, the residents of Abu Rasin and its countryside. The Turkish army and their allied militants continue to wreak havoc east of the Euphrates.“ (The Syrian Observer, 7. Dezember 2020)

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ist das Flüchtlingshochkommissariat der Vereinten Nationen.

·      UNHCR – UN High Commissioner for Refugees: International Protection Considerations with regard to people fleeing the Syrian Arab Republic - Update VI, März 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2049565/606427d97.pdf

„Under the terms of a 22 October 2019 memorandum of understanding between Russia and Turkey, the SDF/YPG [Syrian Defence Forces/Kurdish People’s Protection Unit] forces withdrew from the Turkish border areas, as well as the towns of Manbij and Tel Rifat, while Turkey and its allies retained full control of the 120 km-wide, 30-km-deep stretch of territory between Ras Al-Ain and Tal Abiyad. Simultaneously, Syrian government forces deployed to areas previously held by the SDF/YPG, including the towns of Kobane (Ain Al-Arab), Menbij and Tabqa (Raqqa Governorate). In addition, joint Russian-Turkish military forces began patrols along the Turkish border east and west of the area of ‘Operation Peace Spring’ (Qamishli and Ras Al-Ain Districts and Menbij) at a depth of 10 kilometres. The military offensive resulted in civilian casualties, large-scale displacement of Kurds, Yazidis and Christians, and damage to and closure of critical infrastructure. Over 600 Palestinian refugees have also been impacted by hostilities related to ‘Operation Peace Spring’.“ (UNHCR, März 2021, S. 37)