Turkish Drone Strikes Escalate Tensions in Northern Syria
In a recent development, Turkey has carried out nine drone strikes in various locations in Northern Syria, resulting in eight casualties and five injuries, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). These strikes targeted areas in Hasakah, Amude, Darbasiyah, and Al-Jawadiyah (Çilaxa), raising concerns about civilian safety.
The Kurdish red crescent reported that the drone strikes also hit areas near the Washokani camp, home to thousands of displaced individuals who fled Turkey's military incursion in 2019. The attacks have caused panic among the camp's residents.
One of the most significant incidents during these drone strikes was the alleged downing of a Turkish drone near the Tal Baydar base by the US-led coalition. However, this claim has not been confirmed by the coalition, adding uncertainty to the situation.
Tensions have been rising in the region, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attributing Sunday's attack in Ankara to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters allegedly coming from Syria. Fidan further stated that "infrastructure, superstructure facilities" of the People's Protection Units and PKK would be considered "legitimate targets."
In response to these accusations, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Abdi, denied any involvement by PKK fighters coming from Syria, stating that "perpetrators haven't passed through our region as Turkish officials claim." Abdi accused Turkey of seeking pretexts to justify its ongoing attacks in the region and potentially launching a new military offensive.
Ankara's attack perpetrators haven't passed through our region as Turkish officials claim, and we aren't party to Turkey's internal conflict nor we encourage escalation.
— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) October 4, 2023
Turkey is looking for pretexts to legitimize its ongoing attacks on our region and to launch a new military…
The SDF issued a statement refuting the allegations made by Turkish officials, suggesting that these claims were an attempt to divert attention from Turkey's internal issues.
Furthermore, the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) condemned the targeting of infrastructure facilities, describing it as aggressive behavior amounting to war crimes. The AANES also confirmed that the Turkish army had been conducting attacks using warplanes and drones against vital service facilities in Hasaka since the early morning hours.
The United States has expressed concern about the escalating military situation in northern Syria. Deputy State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized their worries about the impact on civilian populations and the potential harm to ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS in the region.
As tensions continue to mount, international efforts to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians in Northern Syria remain a top priority for the global community.
