The Legality of the Creation of “Safe Zone” in Syrian Northern Borders with Turkey in Accordance with International Law

Military force of Turkey and Turkey-backed Syrian forces attacked Northeastern Syria on 9 October 2019. The concept of "safe zone" has been used in different terms in International Humanitarian Law. In this article, the legal status of the formation of a safe zone on Syria's Northern borders with Turkey is examined in the light of international law. The main question of this study is that under what conditions, the safe zone is acceptable in international law. Given the fact that the Syrian central government was opposed to the Turkish military invasion and the creation of the zone, and that there was even military conflict between the parties, and regarding the lack of authorization of the Security Council to establish a safe zone in Syria, Turkish military invasion and establishing such a safe zone was contrary to Article 4(2) of the United Nations Charter. On the other hand, Turkey's attempt to resettle Syrian refugees in the claimed safe zone, displaced from other parts of Syria, is being done to the detriment of the Kurdish population of Northeast Syria, and is in violation of international human rights and International criminal law.