Christian commander of SDF wounded in suspected Turkish attack

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Christian commander of the Kurdish-led forces and another person were wounded in a suspected Turkish drone attack in northeast Syria (Rojava), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and media outlets said.

The drone hit a car carrying a member of the general command of the Syriac Military Council, Orom Maroge, and his translator in Tel Tamir as they were heading to the town’s power station, SDF media head Farhad Shami said in a tweet.

The attack came hours after an alleged Turkish bombardment hit Tal Tamir and Zirgan district in Hasaka province, according to a conflict monitor, without causing civilian casualties.

Ankara often targets Rojava, especially Hasaka province, killing and injuring civilians as well as security forces.

Over 700 civilians were kidnapped and 134 others were injured in Turkish attacks in 2021, the SDF said in January.

The region also saw 47 Turkish ground attacks and incursion attempts as well as 89 drone offensives last year.

Turkey has conducted three military operations in northern Syria since 2016, two of them against Kurdish fighters who Ankara considers a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and a threat to its national security. It has been threatening a new offensive against Kurdish forces in Rojava in recent months.