A Turkish drone strike killed nine civilians from the same family in a village south of Kobani (Kobanê) on Sunday night, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The attack, which comes just days before Kurdish communities across the region celebrate Newroz as a symbol of freedom and renewal, has sent shockwaves through North and East Syria.
The airstrike hit an area between the villages of Qomji and Barkh Botan, targeting a family engaged in agricultural work. Among the dead are the parents and their seven children from the Othman Abdo family. Two additional family members, Ronida Othman Abdo and Narin Othman Abdo, were seriously wounded and transported to hospital.
تحديث – في عدوان تركي جديد، ارتكبت طائرات الاحتلال التركي مجزرة جديدة بحقّ مدنيين في قرية برخ بوتان جنوبي كوباني، حيث أودى القصف التركي بحياة سبعة مدنيين غالبيتهم أطفال وجرح آخرين من عائلة واحدة.
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) March 16, 2025
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Media Centre issued a scathing statement condemning the attack as a deliberate war crime and part of a broader Turkish military strategy of ethnic cleansing.
“The Turkish state, unable to advance on the battlefronts, takes revenge on civilians. Yesterday, a Turkish warplane targeted a family engaged in agricultural work south of Kobanê, committing a horrific massacre. Seven of the victims were children.”
The SDF further detailed Turkey’s escalation in the region, including intense bombardment of Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam, Qara Quzak (Qere Qozaq) Bridge, and several villages near Manbij (Minbîc), which have been bombarded more than 80 times with tanks, rockets and warplanes. The attacks also targeted civilian homes and agricultural land, causing widespread destruction.
“The attacks on civilian infrastructure, homes and agricultural areas are designed to displace our people and make life unlivable. These crimes demand an urgent international response,” SDF stated.
Image published by Syrian Democratic Forces Press Centre showing bodies of the civilian family massacred by a Turkish drone strike near Kobani on Sunday night.Kobani, a symbolic stronghold of Kurdish resistance since the battle against ISIS in 2014, has been a frequent target of Turkish drone strikes in recent months. Since 12 December, Turkey has intensified its aerial attacks in the region, reportedly as part of a broader military strategy to isolate Kurdish-controlled territories in North and East Syria. The latest escalation appears to be aimed at encircling Kobani by targeting key infrastructure, the Tishreen Dam, a vital source of water and electricity, and the Qara Quzak Bridge, an equally vital lifeline linking Kurdish regions to the rest of Syria.
The massacre comes amid a new phase of peace negotiations between the Turkish government and imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Since 27 February, Öcalan has been recognised as the key negotiator on the Kurdish side in resolving the Kurdish issue in Turkey, with government figures involved in high-level talks around a potential peace process. The latest breakthrough came on 10 March, when a preliminary peace deal was reached between the Syrian Interim Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to stabilise the region.
As a result, for Kurds, this year’s Newroz—traditionally a festival of resistance—was being welcomed as the ‘Newroz of Freedom’. The massacre has cast a shadow over the celebrations, awakening memories among the population and the Kurds in general of previous attacks on the region.
The Central Executive Board of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party has issued a statement condemning the attack as a war crime and a deliberate attempt to undermine peace efforts.
“This massacre is a war crime that deeply wounds human conscience. It is an attack that disregards the right to life of civilians in the region and openly violates international law. The targeting of children, women and innocent families is a reflection of an inhumane mindset.”
The statement also called for international accountability and an urgent investigation into the attack:
“This attack is not a coincidence; it is a deliberate action meant to escalate tensions and sabotage peace efforts, just as Mr Öcalan warned would happen. We call on the international community to launch an independent investigation, expose those responsible and hold them accountable. We will pursue justice through all national and international platforms.”
The DEM Party further urged Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to provide immediate explanations and condemned their continued silence, saying, “We reject the killing of children and civilians under the pretext of ‘security’. The massacre of a nine-member family just as peace negotiations are ongoing is not just an attack on civilians, it is a deliberate message against the hopes for peace.”
The statement concluded with a demand for independent international organisations to immediately initiate an investigation and ensure justice.
Local and international human rights groups and Kurdish organisations also strongly condemned the attack which SDF’s Media Centre called a “war crime”, urging the international community to take immediate action. “Targeting civilians in their homes and fields is a systematic strategy of ethnic cleansing,” said an SDC spokesperson. “This attack is not just against a single family—it is against the entire Kurdish people.”
The funeral of the victims is expected to take place today, with thousands likely to gather in mourning and protest. There are growing expectations that international organisations will react to this latest attack.
