Tishreen Dam admin warns Iraq government of collapse amid shelling
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The Tishreen Dam administration informed the Iraqi government that the dam is on the verge of collapse, which could lead to humanitarian catastrophes.
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Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on an area in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, December 12, 2024. (AP)
The administration of the Tishreen Dam has issued a stark warning to the Iraqi government, cautioning that the dam is under "continuous shelling, putting it on the verge of collapse."
The administration emphasized that this situation represents "an imminent catastrophe that transcends Syrian borders to directly threaten Iraq."
In a related development, a source told Al Mayadeen that any significant damage to the Tishreen Dam, located southeast of Manbij, could lead to its submersion. This would result in a massive flow of its reservoir waters toward Syrian and Iraqi cities along the Euphrates River, raising fears of potential humanitarian disasters.
The source also mentioned alarming reports about military operations near the dam, which could further compromise its structural integrity. Damage has already been confirmed to the electrical cables supplying the Khafsa water station, resulting in water being cut off from Aleppo. Repairs are urgently needed to restore water access to the city.
The source stressed the need to ration water consumption in Aleppo and explore alternative solutions until the damages to the Tishreen Dam are repaired. He called for the immediate "neutralization of dams from military operations and readiness to address such disasters if they occur."
Ongoing clashes
The eastern Aleppo countryside is experiencing intense clashes between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.
In Raqqa, SDF forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in the death of a civilian and injuries to 14 others, as confirmed by local sources.
Meanwhile, the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council destroyed a vehicle belonging to the SNA during an attack in the Deir Hafer region of eastern Aleppo.
The unrest coincides with protests in Hasakah, northeastern Syria, where demonstrators are demanding the withdrawal of SDF forces and the deployment of the Joint Military Operations Administration. Reports indicate that SDF forces fired upon protesters in the Ghuwayran neighborhood of the city.
A Turkish Defense Ministry source told Reuters that Turkish-backed forces continue to advance in northern Syria. However, the SDF reported facing a large-scale assault "launched by Turkish occupation mercenaries, using tanks and drones, on the Tishreen Dam" southeast of Manbij.
The SDF expressed concerns over the dam's safety due to heavy shelling by Turkish forces and their allied fighters, warning of potential damage to the vital infrastructure.
Simultaneously, protests in northeastern Deir Ezzor are escalating, with demands for the SDF to withdraw from the entire province. The SDF is also experiencing internal fractures, with reports of defections among tribal members within its ranks.
