GENOCIDE        WATCH

In November 2022, Turkey launched over 1500 airstrikes across northern Syria and Iraq targeting the Kurdish population and Kurdish towns. Turkey claimed the attacks were in reprisal for a terrorist attack in Istanbul. Ankara blamed two Kurdish parties: the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and the PYD (Syria’s Democratic Union Party). Both parties deny any connection with the Syrian bomber. Turkey’s ‘reprisals’ in northern Syria and Iraq targeted Kurdish towns such as Kobani, Tel Rifat, and Sinjar, where many Kurdish refugees have fled. Turkey’s goal is to collectively punish all Kurds for an unrelated attack in Istanbul for which Turkey needs a scapegoat.