Xenophobic anti-Syrian violence erupted across central and southern Turkey in late June, initially triggered by a video circulating online that allegedly showed a Syrian man abusing a young Syrian girl. After a night of violent attacks in Kayseri on 30th June, the next day saw further deadly riots quickly spread to other cities and towns—including Antakya, Antalya, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Kilis and Konya. Counter-protests quickly erupted across opposition-controlled regions of north-west Syria. Hundreds of Syrian demonstrators, some of them armed, took to the streets in protest, tearing down Turkish flags, hurling rocks at Turkish trucks and attempting to storm the Jarablus crossing. Protests spread across Turkish/SNA-held areas, most notably in Al-Bab, Abyan Saaman, Afrin, Atarib, Azaz, Al-Abzemu, Kafr Nouran and Twameh, as well as the border crossings at Bab al-Salameh and Bab al-Hawa. Crackdowns by the Turkish military and/or SNA and armed clashes with opposition factions resulted in civilian casualties—with at least three Syrian protesters (including a child) killed and more than 40 others injured—in turn prompting armed responses from factions supportive of the protests.




Long-held tensions in Turkey broke out last month in Kayseri, where large crowds burned Syrian-owned businesses and vehicles. In response, protests broke out in north-west Syria, where crowds blocked the Bab al-Salameh crossing and spoke out against Erdogan’s comments about possible normalization with the Assad regime. (Photos: Telegram)
Violence in Turkey & North-west Syria
Years of building anti-Syrian sentiment and economic hardship erupted in Turkey at the end of June, with thousands of people in several major cities participating in xenophobic pogroms against Syrian refugees over the course of several nights. On 30th June, rumors and a video circulating online purported to show a Syrian man abusing a young Syrian girl, igniting anti-Syrian riots across the central city of Kayseri that saw angry crowds take to the streets to target local Syrian shops, vehicles and homes. Further deadly riots spread to other cities and towns across the country—including Antakya, Antalya, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Kilis and Konya. The Turkish government condemned the violence, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing opposition parties of inciting racism.
Many Syrians inside and outside Turkey were furious about the outburst of violence in Turkey; reports of forcible and unlawful deportations of refugees from southern Turkish cities into Syria fed into a counter-response in north-west Syria. The day after the pogroms in Kayseri, hundreds of protesters in Afrin, Azaz, Al-Bab, Marea and Al-Rai blocked roads and prevented Turkish trucks from crossing into Syrian territory. Protests quickly spread to other towns and cities in areas held by Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) including Al-Bab, Abyan Saaman, Afrin, Atarib, Azaz, Al-Abzemu, Kafr Nouran and Twameh, as well as the border crossings at Bab al-Salameh and Bab al-Hawa. Large, angry demonstrations surrounded Turkish military points, where protesters lowered Turkish flags and threw stones at security forces.
The Turkish military responded with gunfire and tear gas, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others. This escalated violence further, with gunmen supportive of the anti-Turkish protests firing at Turkish military points and vehicles, destroying several Turkish-registered trucks, expelling all Turkish employees from several municipal buildings, and burning or removing Turkish flags from public spaces.
These confrontations led to the deaths of five Syrians in Afrin and initial reports of two Turkish casualties from the governor’s protection unit. Additionally, one Syrian was killed during the attempted storming of the Turkish administrative office at the Jarablus crossing. In response to the protests, Turkey imposed a closure of all crossings between Turkey and north-west Syria and shut down internet and communication networks. The blackout temporarily blocked access to information about events transpiring in north-west Syria.
Contributing Factors
The recent outburst of street protests and violence in SNA areas represents the culmination of rising frustration and anger felt by Syrians toward the Turkish government and their local partners in north-west Syria. This disillusionment has been caused by several layered concerns. At the local level, many perceive Turkey is interfering too heavily in administration bodies and exerts excessive control over civil institutions in SNA-held areas. President Erdogan’s recent statements about normalizing with the Syrian regime is also a growing concern for displaced Syrians worried about their future in Turkey and the future of Turkish support to the Syrian opposition more broadly.
The forcible deportations of Syrians, too, from Turkey to north-west Syria have intensified in recent months, coinciding with rising racism against Syrians in Turkey. Since the beginning of 2023, over 57,000 Syrians have been deported, primarily to Idlib province. Although Turkish officials spuriously claim these deportations are entirely “voluntary,” they are frequently coerced and unlawful.
Russian & Regime Activity
The regime and allied Iranian-backed militias have continued their use of drone warfare against opposition-held areas. Strikes targeted areas near the town of Taqad, a farm in the village of Al-Wasatah, and the vicinity of Kafr Ammah, all in western Aleppo province. Another attack using five suicide drones targeted a location near southern Idlib’s Majdaliyah.
Extremist Activity
Protests against HTS and HTS’ Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) have remained active in towns and cities across north-west Syria. Notable sit-ins took place in SSG administrative buildings—including its Ministry of Justice headquarters—and several prisons.