In early July 2024, violent anti-Turkish riots occurred in northern

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

, within areas controlled by

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

and Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces. Local protesters and armed militants attacked and set fire to Turkish government buildings, military bases, and attacked Turkish civilians in the region. The clashes coincided with anti-Syrian riots in Turkey.

Background

Prior to the clashes, tensions between Syrian refugees and Turks had been intensifying in Turkey. The country, which hosts over 3 million Syrian refugees, has faced accusations of discrimination against this population. Furthermore, nearly 30,000 Syrian refugees were forcibly deported from Turkey in 2023 and subjected to inhumane treatment, according to the Syrians for Truth and Justice Institute. In a speech on 28 June 2024, Turkish President Erdoğan expressed his willingness to restore relations with the

Syrian government The government of Syria takes place in a presidential system and is currently in a transitionary period under and led by a transitional government. The seat of the government is located in Damascus, Syria. On 8 December 2024, after the succ ...

under

Bashar al-Assad Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator Sources characterising Assad as a dictator: who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...

, inciting anger among the Syrian opposition and refugees. On the same day, Turkey reopened the Abu al-Zandin crossing near

al-Bab Al-Bab ( / ALA-LC: ''al-Bāb'') is a Syrian city, administratively belonging to the Aleppo Governorate. Al-Bab is located northeast of Aleppo, south of the Turkish border, and has an area of . Al-Bab has an altitude of . According to the Cen ...

, facilitating commercial connections between Turkish-controlled areas and Syrian government-held territories in the eastern Aleppo countryside. Subsequently, on 30 June 2024, an anti-Syrian

pogrom A pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of Massacre, massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews. The term entered the English language from Russian to describe late 19th- and early 20th-century Anti-Jewis ...

erupted in the Turkish city of Kayseri after a Syrian national was accused of sexually abusing a child. Dozens of Syrian-owned shops and offices were set ablaze, and 14 police officers were injured.

Clashes

On 1 July 2024, violent riots erupted in Turkish-occupied Northern Syria and the rebel-held

Idlib Governorate Idlib Governorate ( / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Idlib'') is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey's Hatay province to the north, Aleppo Governorate to the east, Hama Governorate to the sou ...

, where several Turkish military bases are located. In the town of Al-Rai, protesters removed Turkish flags from government institutions and military bases, obstructing the passage of commercial convoys and trucks from Turkey. In the town of

Azaz Azaz () is a city in northwest Syria, roughly north-northwest of Aleppo. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Azaz had a population of 31,623 at the 2004 census.

, employees of the Turkish postal service,

PTT PTT may refer to: Businesses and organizations * PTT Public Company Limited, a Thai oil and gas company * Pashtun Tahafuz Tehrik, a human rights movement in Pakistan * Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad, the New York Penn Station tunnel ow ...

, were expelled from their offices. Subsequently, armed clashes erupted in Afrin, where gunmen attacked the Turkish military headquarters. At the Syria-Turkey border, militants opened fire on trucks coming from the Turkish border, resulting in the burning of 11 trucks in total. At least three protesters and five militants were killed during the clashes. On 2 July 2024, Turkey shut down all its border crossings with Syria, including the

Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing The Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing (, "Gate of the Winds Crossing") is located on the Syria–Turkey border about west of Aleppo in northwest Syria. It connects the Syrian M45 and the Turkish D827 highways, between the cities of İskenderun and Idl ...

, which serves as a trade and transit route for over 3 million people. Additionally, reports emerged of internet and power outages in Syrian opposition-controlled areas. On 3 July 2024, traffic resumed through the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing after a two day hiatus. In the town of

Ras al-Ayn Ras al-Ayn (, , ), also spelled Ras al-Ain, is a city in al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, on the Syria–Turkey border. One of the oldest cities in Upper Mesopotamia, the area of Ras al-Ayn has been inhabited since at least the Neol ...

, fighters from the Hamza Division and

Ahrar al-Sharqiya Tajammu Ahrar al-Sharqiya (Gathering of Free Men of the East), commonly referred to as Ahrar al-Sharqiya, was an armed Syrian rebel group founded in 2016 by individuals exiled and displaced mostly from the Deir ez-Zor Governorate and other east ...

, along with local residents, demonstrated against the ongoing attacks on Syrians in Turkey. The former reportedly pulled some of its fighters from the frontline town of Abu Rasin in protest.

Reactions

Syrian Democratic Forces The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a Kurds in Syria, Kurdish-led coalition of U.S.-backed Left-wing politics, left-wing ethnic militias and rebel groups, and serves as the official military wing of the Democratic Autonomous Administration ...

: Leader,

Mazloum Abdi Farhad Abdi Shaheen, better known by his ''Pseudonym#Military and paramilitary organizations, nom de guerre'' Mazlum Kobane, is a Kurds in Syria, Syrian Kurdish military leader, serving as the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces ( ...

said that, despite differences, Syrians were united by national honor and independence. Abdi condemned the attacks on Syrians in Kayseri, and called for the protection of their lives and dignity. Abdi also welcomed all Syrians who rioted to SDF controlled areas in north and eastern Syria, extending a hand to save the country together.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Turkish riots in Syria, 2024 2024 in the Syrian civil war July 2024 in Syria July 2024 crimes in Asia 2024 riots Riots and civil disorder in Syria Anti-Turkish sentiment Discrimination in Syria Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war Attacks on military installations in 2024 Attacks on military installations in Syria 2024 protests Protests in Syria Attacks on office buildings in Asia Syria–Turkey border crossings Arson in Syria Arson in 2024 2024 fires in Asia Arson attacks on vehicles in Asia Aleppo Governorate in the Syrian civil war Al-Hasakah Governorate in the Syrian civil war Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Background

Clashes

Reactions

See also

References