ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least one Turkish soldier and several Syrian militiamen were killed in northern Syria this week by local forces in retaliation for Turkey’s recent deadly attacks on Kurdish forces and civilians in the northeast (Rojava).
The al-Bab Military Council, in a statement on Friday, said they targeted Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies in al-Yashli village, near al-Bab city on Tuesday. The military base housed nearly 60 fighters. The al-Bab Military Council is affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They claimed to have killed a dozen Turkish soldiers.
“Twelve fighters from the Turkish invading army were killed and 11 others were injured,” read the statement. They said they also “killed 10 [Syrian] mercenaries and injured 10 others in addition to the destruction of three armored vehicles, two drilling machines, a large number of buildings and fortifications, heavy weapons, and military equipment.”
The Turkish defense ministry reported the death of one soldier, Infantry Specialist Sergeant Muammer Yigit. The ministry did not give details of where he was killed, but condolence messages from government and ruling party officials indicate the soldier was killed in a rocket attack on Turkish forces in al-Bab, with some blaming Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) put the number of Turkish casualties at five: “SOHR activists have reported the death of a Turkish soldier and wounding of another four in a rocket fire by the Kurdish forces while targeting a Turkish base in al-Yashli village in al-Bab countryside in northeast Aleppo.”
Turkey bombarded the area following the attack, according to the UK-based conflict monitor.
In recent weeks, Turkish forces have stepped up attacks against the SDF in areas covered by 2019 ceasefires brokered by the US and Russia. The truces brought a Turkish offensive to an end, but have been frequently violated. Several fighters and civilians have been killed.
Al-Bab was under the control of the SDF until Turkey and its Syrian proxies invaded it in late 2016. Clashes in this area are rare. Two members of the al-Bab Military Council were killed in a Turkish rocket attack in late July, reported SOHR.
