A Turkish drone strike on the village of Barkh Botan in Kobani (Kobanê) on Sunday, which killed nine members of the same family, including seven children, has drawn widespread condemnation from Kurdish political figures, civil society organisations and international representatives.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) described the attack as a “horrific massacre” and said the victims were civilians engaged in agricultural work. In response, the SDF announced targeted military action against Turkish forces in northern Syria. SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi also condemned the attack, calling it a ‘crime against humanity’ and urging the Syrian interim government to take responsibility for protecting its citizens from foreign attacks.
نعزي ذوي الضحايا الأبرياء الذي قضو في القصف التركي لعائلة بأكملها في ريف كوباني، ونتمنى الشفاء للمصابين. استهداف مُزارع وأطفاله جريمة ضد الإنسانية.
على الحكومة المؤقتة تحمل مسؤولياتها تجاه قتل مواطنيها على يد دول أخرى.
كما نناشد التحالف الدولي والقوى الفاعلة القيام بإيقاف هذه…— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) March 17, 2025
The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) also strongly condemned the airstrike, describing it as a “massacre” targeting civilians. The KCK accused Turkey of conducting systematic attacks against Kurdish-populated areas to weaken resistance and suppress Kurdish political identity. The KCK called on the international community to take a firm stance against such actions and emphasised that the attack on Kobani should not be seen as an isolated incident but as part of Turkey’s broader military strategy in the region.
Reactions have also come from political circles in Turkey. DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan, who recently held critical talks with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on peace and democratic reforms, responded to the attack by saying that such actions undermine ongoing peace efforts.
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Ferit Şenyaşar, a DEM Party MP, echoed these concerns, recalling that imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan had warned of potential efforts to sabotage peace initiatives. He argued that the timing of the attack raises concerns about attempts to derail ongoing discussions and called on the government to clarify its role.
In a statement issued at a protest in the Suruç (Pirsûs) district of Şanlıurfa (Riha), Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Mahir Bülbül described the attack as an intentional escalation designed to disrupt regional stability. He pointed to recent diplomatic engagements between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and Damascus, arguing that the strike was intended to interfere with these developments. DBP also called on the Turkish government to provide an official explanation.
In contrast, Turkey’s Presidential Communications Directorate denied responsibility for civilian casualties, stating that Turkish military operations strictly target “terrorist organisations” and adhere to international laws. Turkish authorities dismissed the reports as “false” and “manipulative”, claiming that allegations of civilian deaths were intended to damage Turkey’s international standing.
The airstrike has heightened tensions at a time when discussions on conflict resolution in the region were gaining momentum, raising questions about Turkey’s commitment to dialogue. The incident has also sparked protests in Kurdish-populated areas demanding accountability and justice for the victims of the attack.
