Turkey’s aggression against Kurdish-controlled regions in northeastern Syria continues to escalate. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence has been sharing footage of the airstrikes, which have killed seven Damascus soldiers and a Russian soldier as well as several Kurdish fighters and civilians since the beginning of the week.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria issued a condemnation of the airstrikes, which, in addition to human casualties, left scores of people injured and caused extensive material damage.
The statement issued by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) also raised concerns about the timing of these attacks, as they coincided with discussions surrounding quadripartite meetings between Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, aimed at improving relations between Ankara and Damascus.
“Turkey has once again escalated its unjustified attacks at a time when efforts are being made to seek a solution to the Syrian crisis,” said the AANES in its written statement.
Furthermore, the AANES did not rule out the possibility of collusion between Turkey and other parties against their administration. If proven true, this would pose a serious threat not only to the AANES but also to Syria and the broader region.
Emphasising the need for a collective effort to address the situation and maintain stability in northern Syria, the autonomous administration called upon the US-led Global Coalition, Russia, and the Syrian government to clarify their positions regarding these attacks.
The AANES revealed that Turkey launched a wide-ranging attack using drones and artillery shells on areas in Manbij (Minbic), Qamishli (Qamîshlo), Kobani (Kobane) and the Aleppo (Heleb) northern countryside known as al-Shahba (Şehba), directly affecting civilians and resulting in the loss of lives of both civilians and military personnel. The attacks have left at least 10 people dead, with many others sustaining injuries.
