Russian forces injured in drone attack in Rojava’s Darbasiyah: Asayesh

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least one Russian soldier was injured in a drone attack in Darbasiyah town in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Thursday, according to Kurdish security forces (Asayesh) who blamed Turkey for the incident in which civilians were also hurt. 

"Turkish planes targeted a Russian forces point in the vicinity of Darbasiyah,” read a statement from the Asayesh. "A drone, which belongs to the invading army, targeted a Russian forces military point on Thursday."

"A Russian soldier and three civilians were injured," stated the Asayesh, describing the site that was hit as a "strategic coordination point" one kilometre south of Darbasiyah town on the road to Hasakah city. 

Darbasiyah is located in northern Hasaka province. It is under the control of Kurdish Asayesh forces. Regime forces and Russian military police also have a presence. They were deployed to the town in coordination with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as part of a ceasefire ending Turkey’s October offensive against the Kurdish forces. 

The conflict monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) earlier reported injuries among Syrian regime forces as well as the Russians, and shared footage purportedly showing the injured being taken to hospital.

Civilian sources near the incident area told Rudaw that two members of Kurdish security forces (Asayesh) were also injured. 

Neither Turkey nor Russia have immediately commented on the incident.

Updated at 9:27pm