ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday accused “Damascus-affiliated militants” of escalating assaults in northern and eastern Syria, including a "suicide drone attack" on their forces in eastern Aleppo and a separate drone attack on the affiliated internal security forces (Asayish). The accusations come amid rising tensions along the lines separating SDF-held areas from those controlled by Damascus.
In a statement, the SDF said militants affiliated with the Damascus government were “continuing to escalate their assaults and violations” in northern and eastern Syria, accusing them of “targeting our fighters and innocent civilians in an attempt to destabilize the security and stability of the area.”
The statement added that in the early morning hours of Sunday “these militants launched a suicide drone attack on an [SDF] military vehicle in the vicinity of Deir Hafer district,” in eastern Aleppo, “resulting in minor injuries to three of our fighters.”
Later the same day, “One of their [Damascus-affiliated militants’] armed drones targeted a patrol belonging to the [SDF-affiliated] Internal Security Forces [Asayish] while it was performing its duties in protecting civilians, resulting in injuries to four fighters.”
Deir Hafer is a strategic area located in eastern Aleppo province. It remains largely under the US-backed SDF control, which functions as the de facto military force of northeast Syria (Rojava).
The latest accusations by the SDF come as Damascus-aligned factions have in recent weeks intensified efforts to seize the district, as it would enable them to open a logistical corridor from Aleppo to Raqqa province in north-central Syria. It would also allow them to put military pressure on the SDF in other regions crucial for the Kurdish forces’ operations, including Tishreen Dam and Qere Qozaq bridge, both on the Euphrates River.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) relayed on Monday that “Turkish military reinforcements arrived at Kuweires Airbase” in eastern Aleppo. The airbase is controlled by the Syrian National Army (SNA) - a Turkish-backed coalition of Syrian armed opposition groups, with an estimated strength of up to 70,000 fighters.
The SNA operates primarily in northern Syria and its operations have chiefly been directed at forces of toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the US-backed SDF and previously the Islamic State (ISIS).
SOHR also reported that “military reinforcements have also reached the Tishreen Dam” along the Euphrates River, from both the SDF and “Turkey and [Syrian] government forces.” Both sides maintain a foothold near the strategic dam.
The war monitor further cited “sources” as reporting that “a meeting was recently held in the city of Aleppo” between officials from the Syrian interim Government and SNA commanders, concluding with ordering the dispatch of “military units equipped with vehicles and heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery” to Deir Hafer.
The military build up has coincided with sporadic attacks in eastern Aleppo.
In late September, media outlets affiliated with the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava reported that “transitional government forces shelled the village of Zubaidah” in Deir Hafer, using heavy artillery, injuring four children with varying degrees of severity. Hawar News Agency (ANHA) added that “militants” affiliated with Damascus “launched a drone attack at 6:30 pm today, targeting an SDF post” in the district.
SOHR corroborated the drone strike, stating that “two SDF members were injured in the drone attack carried out by government forces.”
Earlier in September, the SDF accused Damascus-affiliated groups of carrying out a “massacre” in the village of Umm Tina in Deir Hafer, reporting that five women and two children were killed in drone strikes and artillery shelling. The SDF stated that “seven civilians were martyred, including two children and five women,” and added that three other women and a 60-year-old man were also injured.
SOHR also reported on the incident, attributing the civilian casualties to “shelling by the Syrian army.”
In response, the Syrian defense ministry issued a statement denying any involvement in the Umm Tina attack. “We affirm our categorical denial of the reports promoted by their [SDF’s] affiliated media outlets regarding the Syrian Arab Army targeting the village of Umm Tina,” the ministry said, adding that the SDF is “fully responsible for the massacre against the people of the village.”
In its Sunday statement, the SDF again pointed to the Umm Tina incident, saying the “repeated attacks clearly expose the efforts of the Damascus government’s militants to create chaos and destabilize northern and eastern Syria.” The group pledged to “continue our duty to protect our people and confront all attempts to undermine the security and stability of the region.”
Updated at 9:33 pm
