The Syrian Future Movement is following with deep concern and sorrow the dramatic developments unfolding in the city of Aleppo since the beginning of January 2026, which culminated today, Saturday, January 10, 2026, with the Syrian Ministry of Energy announcing the cessation of water pumping from the Babiri station (located in the eastern countryside of Aleppo near the Deir Hafer axis) to the city and its surrounding areas at 5:30 PM local time.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the Babiri station is the main and primary source of drinking water for more than four million citizens in Aleppo Governorate, and that its deliberate shutdown – as reported by the Ministry – was a direct result of orders from military elements belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control the area. This constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights and a heinous crime against innocent civilians who are already suffering the ravages of the protracted conflict.
The Syrian Future Movement places this incident within its precise historical and security context, noting that the military escalation in the northern neighborhoods of Aleppo (Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, Bani Zeid, al-Suryan, and others) began at the start of January 2026 and intensified significantly from Tuesday, January 6, 2026, with the outbreak of fierce clashes and mutual shelling that resulted in dozens of martyrs and wounded among civilians, the displacement of tens of thousands, and the imposition of a complete curfew in several neighborhoods starting Wednesday, January 7, 2026, declaring them closed military zones.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that targeting vital infrastructure such as water and power stations and hospitals represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and exacerbates the suffering of a people yearning for peace and stability after long years of destruction and displacement. The Syrian Future Movement, while condemning in the strongest terms any use of civilians as leverage or tools in political and military conflicts, affirms its unwavering commitment to the unity of Syria, both land and people, and its categorical rejection of any form of division or aggression against the civilian population. We believe that purely military solutions do not build a nation but only deepen the wounds, and that the only way out of this vicious cycle is through comprehensive national dialogue that brings together all components of the Syrian people, free from external interference, and that guarantees the rights of all to security, dignity, and equitable access to basic services.
The Syrian Future Movement calls upon all parties to:
- Immediately cease any actions targeting civilian infrastructure and restore water supply from the Babiri station without delay to spare the population further humanitarian suffering amidst the harsh winter conditions.
- Open urgent and effective channels of communication between the relevant parties, and calls upon international organizations and the United Nations to play a genuine mediating role and provide impartial monitoring to protect civilians and ensure the safety of vital services.
- Work diligently and continuously towards a sustainable political solution that rebuilds the lost trust among Syrians and establishes a unified, pluralistic state that respects the diversity of its components and guarantees a fair and transparent distribution of resources and services, free from exclusion or marginalization.
The Syrian Future Movement appeals to the conscience of every Syrian: the future of Syria will not be built with weapons, sieges, and revenge, but with sincere dialogue, national reconciliation, and joint cooperation for reconstruction and prosperity. Aleppo, the jewel of Syria and cradle of civilization, deserves to return to being a city of peace and coexistence, not a battleground of conflict and suffering.
