ALEPPO, Syria — One could say that all Syrian cities and towns are unsafe, but the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo, in addition to the north of Raqqa governorate and parts of the northwestern countryside of Hasakah governorate, which are under the control of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), are relatively safer. No bombings or raids by the Syrian regime and its allies are carried out there, unlike in Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo. However, being relatively the safest does not necessarily mean safe; northern Syria faces the danger of rigged cars and motorcycles.
The areas under the control of the Turkish-backed FSA became safer after Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield on Aug. 24, 2016, and following the formation of the FSA's National Army in late 2017. Safety was reinforced in January 2018 with Operation Olive Branch. However, as soon as the Turkish army announced Operation Peace Spring in October 2019, a wave of explosions hit the area, targeting densely populated neighborhoods and popular markets, as well as leading military and revolutionary figures in the area.
The first bombing attacks were recorded in the town of Suluk in the countryside of Raqqa, 10 days after the Turkish army took control of the town; a car bomb exploded on Oct. 23, 2019, killing eight people, wounding several civilians and causing significant material damage. The largest bombing targeted al-Bab city on Nov. 16, 2019, killing 15 civilians and injuring over 30 others. No group claimed responsibility for these attacks.
Most recently, on Jan. 31, two separate car bombs in the town of Azaz and al-Bab killed at least 12 people. On Jan. 30, another explosion in Afrin killed eight civilians, including four children.
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