On August 23, 2023, a suspected Turkish drone attack in the Kurdish-administered northeastern region of Syria hit an unmarked vehicle belonging to the women-operated broadcaster JIN TV, killing driver Najm El-Din Faisal Haj Sinan and injuring journalist Dalila Agid.
Najm El-Din, 45, was married with three daughters and a son, according to the journalist’s father, Faisal Haj Sinan, who spoke to CPJ. He began working with JIN TV as a driver in 2021.
Dijla Eito, a member of JIN TV’s board, told CPJ that the JIN TV crew was en route to report and was traveling along the Syria-Turkey border between the Syrian cities of Amuda — home to the broadcaster’s studio — and Qamishli when the attack occurred.
He was buried in Amude, a town in northern Syria, Faisal Haj Sinan told CPJ, adding that the journalist’s family does not have a house or source of income yet, which is why he supports them financially.
Faisal Haj Sinan told CPJ that while international law safeguards journalists and media personnel, “regrettably, Turkish drone strikes disregard these protections, resulting in casualties among civilians and journalists.” He called for an immediate international inquiry into these events.
CPJ emailed the Turkish president’s office for comment but did not receive a reply. CPJ was unable to source contact information for the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Turkey has previously said that its strikes in northern Syria target Kurdish fighters that it considers terrorists.