In recent days, Turkey has intensified its military actions in northern Syria following a tragic terrorist attack in Ankara that claimed multiple lives. The Turkish air force, including warplanes and drones, launched a series of airstrikes on Kurdish-controlled regions in northern and eastern Syria late Wednesday and into Thursday morning. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 13 people were reported dead, with another 15 injured due to the strikes.
These airstrikes were a direct response to the deadly attack in Ankara on Wednesday, which Turkish authorities linked to members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, commonly known as the PKK.
The PKK has long been recognized as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. This group has waged an insurgency against the Turkish government for over three decades, seeking greater autonomy for the Kurdish population.
The Turkish military's air raids targeted several Kurdish-controlled areas, including rural regions in the provinces of Hasakah and Raqqa, as well as the cities of Kobani and Tel Rifaat, located near Aleppo. Key infrastructures were hit during these strikes, such as water, gas, and electricity facilities, alongside medical centres, bakeries, and civilian checkpoints.
In Hasakah, a significant incident occurred when a Turkish airstrike struck a gas station in the Suwaydiyah area, tragically resulting in the deaths of eight workers.
The injured civilians were swiftly taken to nearby hospitals for medical assistance. Local authorities indicated that the death toll might rise due to the critical nature of some injuries, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In the city of Kobani, a drone strike tragically claimed the life of a journalist working for the Kurdish internal security forces, known as Asayish. This incident underscores the broader implications of the military actions, as journalists and civilians continue to face grave risks in conflict zones.
Further north in Tel Rifaat, Turkish artillery shelling resulted in the deaths of four civilians from the same family, including a young girl. The intensity of the attacks reflects the ongoing tensions between Turkish forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey perceives as an extension of the PKK.
According to reports from Sham FM, a pro-government radio station, Turkish drones and artillery specifically targeted several positions of the SDF. Notable locations included Qamishli's Gulf Street in Hasakah province and a site near Amuda. The strategic M4 highway in Raqqa province was also affected by the military actions.
On Thursday morning, drone attacks resumed, focusing on a checkpoint near Qamishli's railway station, along with other vital civilian infrastructure like a bakery and electricity stations in Amuda. This relentless assault further complicates the humanitarian situation in the region, where civilians are often caught in the crossfire of military operations.
The escalation follows a terrorist attack at the production facility of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara, which left at least five people dead and 22 others injured. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that two attackers, identified as PKK members, were also killed during the assault.
This incident prompted a swift response from the Turkish Defense Ministry, which announced an air operation targeting PKK sites in both Iraq and northern Syria. The operation reportedly led to the successful destruction of 32 PKK sites.
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