SDF announces death of five fighters by Turkey in northern Syria

12-10-2022
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday announced that five of its fighters were killed by the Turkish army in Syria’s northern town of Ain Issa this week on the third anniversary of Turkey’s military operation in the area. 

Sunday marked the third anniversary of Turkey’s offensive against the SDF in northern Syria which led to the invasion of the Kurdish towns of Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) and Gire Spi (Tal Abyad). The SDF said on Wednesday that Ankara continues violating the ceasefire it separately signed with Americans and Russians at the time. 

The SDF also identified five of its fighters who were killed during Turkey’s attacks, supported by its Syrian mercenaries, in Ain Issa town which borders Sari Kani and Gire Spi between Sunday and Wednesday. 

“The Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries are still launching daily attacks and attacks on various regions of northern and eastern Syria, using various types of weapons, including drones, targeting infrastructure and civilian homes, as well as fighters stationed at their military points,” read a statement by the SDF.  

Turkey has claimed that it has killed a number of SDF forces in Syria in recent days but it is not clear if they included the five fighters announced dead by the SDF. 

Turkey claims that the People’s Protection Units (YPG), backbone of the SDF, is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers the PKK and YPG terrorist organizations.  

Turkey and its Syrian mercenaries have carried out two major military operations against the SDF in northern Syria since 2018. 
 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and partner forces standing in formation ahead of announcing the end of a week-long anti-ISIS operation in al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) on November 12, 2024. Photo: Screengrab/SDF press

Kurdish forces end week-long op in Rojava, detain 79 ISIS suspects

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced the completion of a week-long operation against Islamic State (ISIS) sleeping cells in the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava), detaining 79 suspected members of the group.