Ain Issa residents desert villages in fear of Turkish attack

AIN ISSA, Syria — Civilians and security forces in the Ain Issa area are fearful of another Turkish incursion, with locals vacating their villages at night.

“We use mattresses and blankets as beds. We used to keep them at our house but now we are keeping them in the vehicle and sleeping in deserted areas. We come back the next day. We do not take our belongings out of the truck. This is how we live,” said local resident Fadhil Ahmed. 

“We cannot sleep, cook, wash clothes or clean our houses. When we prepare food we are reluctant to eat,” added Shamsa Mohammed. 

300 to 400 families in villages near Ain Issa have reportedly abandoned their homes due to Turkish bombardments. 

Ain Issa is the administrative capital of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES),also known as Rojava, and lies north of Raqqa in Gire Spi (Tel Abyad) district. 

The area has been hit by multiple Turkish bombardments in recent days, lying just outside of a Turkish-controlled zone taken by Ankara during 2019’s Operation Peace Spring offensive, which displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

"There have been constant attacks in Ain Issa and its villages in the last few days. Turkey also tried to enter the city but fire was returned from many sides [by our forces]. It may attack again because it has a project of enlargement in the region," said Riyad Al-Khamees, head of Gire Spi's Military Council.

“We guard this road around the clock to protect civilians, and we resist against our enemy, Turkey,” said Asayesh member Ahmed al-Ali at the entrance to Ain Issa. 

 Translation by Karwan Faidhi Dri