Violations in Turkish-Occupied Northern Syria: Potential Pathways for Justice and Accountability

Six years ago, in January 2018, the Turkish military and allied Syrian armed opposition groups launched a military operation code-named “Olive Branch” into the Kurdish-majority region of Afrin. This marked their second joint incursion into Syrian territories, following the “Euphrates Shield” operation in 2017.
Later, in 2019, the Turkish military spearheaded a third operation, dubbed “Peace Spring”, into parts of north-east Syria following a sudden U.S. withdrawal from the region. The operation targeted the strip encompassing Ras al-Ayn/Serê Kaniyê and Tell Abyad areas, known for their ethnic and religious diversity. These areas were home to a multitude of communities, including Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Circassians, Syriacs, Assyrians, Turkmen, and others, coexisting harmoniously.
The Türkiye-led military operations in northwest and northeast Syria have forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands people, primarily Kurds, and facilitated Türkiye’s long-term presence there. Under Türkiye’s watch and with its support, Turkish-backed local armed groups continue to commit serious human rights abuses and potential war crimes in those occupied territories amid rampant impunity.
Amid these dire circumstances,, several pressing questions emerge, including inquiries into the pathways available to victims seeking justice while enduring ongoing crimes and persistent human rights abuses and laws-of-war violations. What actions must decision-makers take to end those violations? Additionally, what legal avenues and international mechanisms exist to hold alleged perpetrators accountable?