Syria: 237 Persons Arrested in “Peace Spring” and “Olive Branch” Territories – in November and December 2020

In the territories of military operations code-named Peace Spring and Olive Branch, controlled chiefly by the factions of the opposition-affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Turkish military, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and forced disappearances continue to be carried out. Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) has documented no less than 237 arrest/detention cases in November and December 2020. At the time of reporting, early January 2021, only 104 persons were reportedly released. The remaining 133 are still detained incommunicado.

This report provides the toll of abuses reported above. It draws on information obtained from several sources and documented in STJ’s database. In addition to STJ’s network of field researchers, the sources and documented in STJ’s database. In addition to STJ’s network of field researchers, the sources include locals, eyewitnesses, and sources affiliated with the SNA services and factions.