SDF denies high death toll among fighters as claimed by Turkey

Karwan Faidhi Dri

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday refuted Turkey’s claim that dozens of its fighters were killed in the framework of a fresh aerial operation launched by Ankara on Sunday. The SDF added that only one of its members has been killed in the last two days. 

Turkey launched an aerial military campaign, code-named Operation Claw-Sword, against the SDF in northern Syria and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region in the early hours of Sunday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his air forces hit 44 SDF targets in Syria and 45 PKK targets in the Region. 

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a video, published by his office on Tuesday, that Turkish army has “neutralised” 184 “terrorists” in the framework of the newly-announced operation without elaborating who these people were affiliated to. PKK is an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey but it is regarded as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Turkey also considers Kurdish fighters in Syria as terrorists due to their alleged ties to the PKK. 

Turkey often uses the term “neutralise” to refer to combatants killed or injured on the battlefield.

The SDF’s Media and Information department said in a tweet on Tuesday that Akar’s figure was “inaccurate.”

“As a result of the latest attacks [by Turkey], one of our fighters, two members of security forces and 11 civilians have been martyred,” it said.  

Aram Hanna, SDF spokesperson said late Tuesday that most of the Syrian northern areas, controlled by his force, were affected by Turkish aerial raids. 

The latest Turkish operation against YPG comes a few days after a TNT-laden bomb killed six people and injured 81 others. Turkish authorities have blamed the YPG and PKK but both groups have denied any responsibility. 

Erdogan, who on Monday signaled that a ground operation against SDF in Syria and PKK in Iraq, said on Tuesday that this campaign will take place "soon."