Clashes and Violations Against Civilian Property in Hayrak Village South of Kobani
Hayrak village, located south of the city of Kobani in the northern Aleppo countryside, witnessed armed clashes between factions operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense, against the backdrop of internal disputes related to stolen items and spoils seized from civilians’ homes in villages surrounding the city, according to local sources.
The sources reported that the clashes erupted as a result of a dispute between armed groups over the division of civilian property looted from residents’ homes, after the villages were emptied of their inhabitants following widespread waves of displacement toward the interior of Kobani city, due to military operations carried out by forces affiliated with the transitional government, alongside factions operating under the banner of the Ministry of Defense.
According to the information, the armed factions exploited the state of population vacuum to carry out systematic looting operations affecting several villages south of Kobani. The violations included the theft of household furniture, livestock, and agricultural crops, in addition to the seizure of private property belonging to displaced families, without any legal procedures or official orders.
Local witnesses confirmed that a number of homes were set on fire after being completely looted, causing significant material damage and preventing their owners from returning in the near term, amid ongoing security tensions in the area.
Disputes between the factions over the stolen property led to the outbreak of armed clashes inside Hayrak village, during which light and medium weapons were used, resulting in a state of fear and panic in neighboring villages, amid concerns over the expansion of the clashes in the absence of any effective intervention to contain the situation.
On the humanitarian level, hundreds of displaced civilians living inside Kobani city are experiencing extremely difficult living conditions, suffering from a severe shortage of shelter, food, and water, in addition to weak health services and rising living costs, at a time when the city lacks sufficient capacity to accommodate the growing numbers of displaced persons.
In the same context, local groups and human rights organizations expressed their concern over the escalation of violations against civilians and their property, calling for the opening of urgent and independent investigations into the events in Hayrak village, holding those responsible for looting and arson accountable, ensuring the protection of private property, and preventing the recurrence of such violations.
The organizations emphasized that the continuation of impunity contributes to deepening instability and undermines the prospects for the return of displaced persons to their villages, calling on the relevant authorities to adhere to international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians in conflict areas.
