The Khabur region, located in Syria’s Hasakah Governorate, is once again facing a serious security threat despite the ten years that have passed since the devastating attacks of 2015. That year, assaults carried out by ISIS resulted in a major catastrophe for the Assyrian population of the Khabur Valley: 36 villages were completely destroyed, and thousands of people were forced to abandon their ancestral lands.
Despite the scale of the destruction, the people of the region have shown remarkable resilience, working over the years to rebuild their villages and gradually restore their daily lives. However, today, the possibility that certain armed groups perpetuating the ideology left behind by ISIS may carry out similar attacks has revived deep fears that the tragedies of 2015 could be repeated.
Our people in the Khabur Valley are once again confronted with an existential threat. This situation endangers not only the fragile security of the region but also the cultural, historical, and demographic existence of the Assyrian–Syriac people.
It is imperative that the international community, human rights organizations, and all relevant actors take urgent action to ensure the safety of civilians in the Khabur region and to prevent a new humanitarian disaster.
Protecting the people of Khabur, safeguarding regional peace, and preserving cultural diversity constitute an urgent responsibility that requires international solidarity and effective diplomatic engagement.
