Turkish Intelligence Operatives Eliminate Senior SDF Commander in Northeast Syria
In a targeted operation on Friday, Turkish intelligence operatives eliminated Farhad Derik, a senior commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria. This mission has once again exacerbated the ongoing conflict between Turkey and the SDF, igniting tensions in the region.
Derik, who played a crucial role as a coordinator between the SDF and the global coalition forces in Syria, was tragically killed by a Turkish drone while visiting his family in Derik, Hasaka province. The attack also resulted in injuries to a woman and a child, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Turkey's state-owned Anadolu Agency (AA), quoting unnamed security sources, confirmed that this operation was executed by the Turkish intelligence agency, known as the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). The agency had reportedly been tracking Derik for some time, given his alleged involvement in an attack in Turkey in February 2022, which resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to three others.
The Turkish government has been actively conducting military operations in Rojava since early October, targeting Kurdish-led forces and civilian infrastructure. These actions are believed to be in retaliation for an attack on Turkey's interior ministry in Ankara, an attack claimed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish government, is engaged in a long-standing struggle for increased rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey. Ankara alleges that the SDF and its Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) are the Syrian counterparts of the PKK.
The SDF has strongly denied any involvement in the attack on Turkey's interior ministry, deepening the divide between the two parties and heightening concerns about the already volatile situation in the region. As tensions persist and the conflict escalates, international stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation in hopes of preventing further violence and finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
