SDF says two fighters killed by Turkish drone in Hasaka
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday announced that two of its fighters, who were guarding a camp hosting people affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Hasaka province, were killed by a Turkish drone.
The suspected Turkish aerial attack took place in Hasaka province’s al-Qayrawan village, targeting “the forces who were guarding al-Hol camp,” said the SDF in a statement, referring to the notorious camp hosting over 50,000 people - mostly women and children - majority of whom are accused of having ties to ISIS.
“As a result, two of our fighters were martyred,” said the SDF, blaming Turkey for similar recent attacks in the area.
Ankara has not immediately commented on the incident.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three SDF members, including a commander, were killed in the “Turkish drone attack.”
According to the UK-based war monitor, Turkey has carried out 13 aerial attacks against Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) in the last five months, killing 11 fighters and five civilians. The SDF claimed in their statement that the purpose of these attacks is to help ISIS “reorganise” in the area.
Turkey accuses the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, of being the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group struggling for Kurdish rights in Turkey and named a terror group by Ankara. The YPG denies the charge.
The SDF is the main ally of the US-led global coalition against ISIS in Rojava and has carried out several raids against the group in recent weeks, arresting several suspects, including senior leaders.
The suspected Turkish aerial attack took place in Hasaka province’s al-Qayrawan village, targeting “the forces who were guarding al-Hol camp,” said the SDF in a statement, referring to the notorious camp hosting over 50,000 people - mostly women and children - majority of whom are accused of having ties to ISIS.
“As a result, two of our fighters were martyred,” said the SDF, blaming Turkey for similar recent attacks in the area.
Ankara has not immediately commented on the incident.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three SDF members, including a commander, were killed in the “Turkish drone attack.”
According to the UK-based war monitor, Turkey has carried out 13 aerial attacks against Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) in the last five months, killing 11 fighters and five civilians. The SDF claimed in their statement that the purpose of these attacks is to help ISIS “reorganise” in the area.
Turkey accuses the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, of being the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group struggling for Kurdish rights in Turkey and named a terror group by Ankara. The YPG denies the charge.
The SDF is the main ally of the US-led global coalition against ISIS in Rojava and has carried out several raids against the group in recent weeks, arresting several suspects, including senior leaders.