Turkey renews attacks on energy, power stations in Rojava

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish air forces on Friday launched a new series of attacks against basic service facilities in northeast Syria (Rojava) following days of bombardments. Kurdish officials call on the international community to stop the Turkish aggression. 

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Sunday carried out a suicide explosion against the Turkish interior ministry, injuring two police officers. Since then, Turkey has hit dozens of alleged PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region and Rojava. 

In the last few days, Turkish drones have hit several power stations and oil fields as well as other basic service facilities in Rojava. Fifteen people, including eight civilians, have been killed during airstrikes in the last two days, according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). 

Two key power stations in Qamishli and Tirbespi (al-Qahtaniyah) were severely hit by Turkish drones, and a natural gas production station in Siwediye was hit four times, according to pro-SDF Ronahi TV. 

Hawar News Agency (ANHA), another pro-SDF media outlet, reported that the key power station of Amuda in Hasaka province was bombed by Turkey, causing a blackout that affected nearby Tirbespi as well. Alouk water station, which relies on the targeted power station, also stopped operating. As a result, many areas were left without running water. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that any facility linked to the PKK in Iraq and Syria would constitute “legitimate targets,” for his country. He claimed that the two perpetrators of the Ankara attack had entered Turkey from Syria. The SDF has rejected the claim.  

“Turkey is looking for pretexts to legitimize its ongoing attacks on our region and to launch a new military aggression that is of our deep concern. Threat to target the region's infrastructure, economic resources, and populated cities is a war crime, the thing we have witnessed before,” said Mazloum Abdi, general commander of the SDF, on Wednesday. 

PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey but is proscribed as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Turkey also considers the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

Turkish media on Thursday reported that the Kurdish forces had attacked Turkish security forces in Syria’s Tal Tamir, injuring five policemen and three soldiers.

The SDF confirmed in a statement on Friday that the attack was carried out by their forces in response to the country’s military campaign against them. Five Turkish soldiers were killed and “tens” of others were injured according to the Kurdish force. 

In a statement on Friday, the Kurdistan Community Union (KCK), an umbrella group that includes the PKK, called for all Kurds around the world to protest against the Turkish aggression. 

Thousands of people in Rojava held protests against the Turkish attacks, calling on the international community to impose a no-fly zone over the Kurdish enclave. 

“We… call on the international community and the guarantor parties, including the United States of America and Russia, to adopt an honest and clear stance. Otherwise, the attacks will lead to further chaos and a catastrophic crisis, with negative consequences for everyone,” warned Bedran Ciya Kurd, co-president of Rojava’s foreign affairs office, on Thursday.

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