Human Rights Organizations Warn of Escalating Violence in Northern Syria and Call for Protection of Civilians
December 5, 2024, 2:24 pm

Human Rights Organizations Warn of Escalating Violence in Northern Syria and Call for Protection of Civilians

الصراع في سوريا

The organizations signing this statement warn of the serious repercussions resulting from the recent military escalation in northern Syria and call on all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians, halt violations, and adhere to international humanitarian law.

Since November 27, 2024, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, designated as a terrorist organization, has launched a wide-scale military assault under the title "Battle of Deterrence Against Aggression."

This offensive rapidly led to the capture of the city of Aleppo and large areas of its countryside, completing the control of all of Idlib province and parts of Hama province, following the withdrawals and collapses experienced by the Syrian government forces and their allied militias. This coincided with deadly airstrikes by Syrian and Russian aircraft targeting hospitals and civilian sites in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties, both dead and injured.

On November 30, 2024, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army took advantage of the changes in the front lines to begin a military operation named "Dawn of Freedom" in northern Aleppo and the Shahba regions, which are under the control of the People’s Protection Units (YPG). This operation led to the forced displacement of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons, most of whom are from the Kurdish canton of Afrin, making them victims of a new wave of displacement after previously being displaced during Operation Olive Branch in 2018.

Numerous violations against Kurdish civilians, including Yazidis, have been documented by the attacking forces. These violations included the arrest of dozens, killings and looting, assaults on displacement convoys, and unprecedented incitement and hate speech. Reports indicated that a group of civilians who tried to return to Afrin faced arrest, beatings, and theft of their personal belongings, with cases of individuals reported missing.

Syrian organizations warn that this military escalation represents a dangerous turning point in the Syrian conflict, raising genuine concerns among many communities, particularly religious and ethnic minorities, which have a complex history of violations. These conditions also alarm residents in areas outside government control who have witnessed airstrikes from government and Russian forces resulting in civilian fatalities and injuries.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
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For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”