Kurds in Kobane Appeal to Elon Musk for Starlink Internet Amid Communications Blackout

World 11:09 AM - 2026-01-22

Starlink for Kobane.

Residents in the north-east Syrian city of Kobane have made a public appeal to Elon Musk, founder and chief executive of SpaceX, urging him to provide Starlink satellite internet access as communications in the area remain severely disrupted.

The appeal comes amid an ongoing blackout of traditional communications infrastructure in areas of Rojava, where fighting and power cuts have left many communities without reliable internet or electricity. Kobane, internationally known for its resistance to the Islamic State (ISIS), has faced heightened security pressures and disruption to basic services.

Kurdish writer and scholar Dr Choman Hardi wrote in a post on X that Kobane has been cut off since 21 January 2026, with power, water and internet services down. She warned of a looming humanitarian disaster, saying that without internet access there are “no witnesses”, and called for urgent access to Starlink.

The appeal argues that satellite internet could help residents remain connected with the outside world and ensure information from the city continues to reach the international community.

Starlink, a satellite-based broadband network operated by Musk’s SpaceX, has been used in other conflict and communication blackout situations to bypass damaged infrastructure, but it is not officially available in Syria and would require special arrangements to operate there.


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