Turkish shelling kills three civilians in Rojava
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least three civilians, including a mother and a daughter, were killed and a few children were wounded by Turkish shelling in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Tuesday night, the Kurdish-led Syrian forces said hours following the attack.
The Turkish army attacked the villages of Zirgan district in Hasaka province, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said.
The shelling led to the death of three people, including a 60-year-old mother and her 30-year-old daughter, the SDF said noting that four others were left injured.
Among the injuries were three children, it added.
The death toll rose to four on Wednesday after an old man, who was brutally wounded in the attack, lost his life, according to Hawar News Agency (ANHA).
a violent shelling by Turkish army & the Turkish supported National army took place on #Tal_Tamer villages in last few hours , led to the kill of an old woman, her daughter, & another man, it also caused 4 wounded including 3 children siblings, a Turkish drone flew while bombing. pic.twitter.com/q5j7hpXqJr
— Coordination & Military Ops Center - SDF (@cmoc_sdf) December 21, 2021
Local media outlets also confirmed the news of the attack, with North Press Agency (NPA) raising the toll of injuries to ten people. The internal security forces (Asayish) on Tuesday said the Turkish offensives targeting areas in north of Hasaka are “an attempt to displace the residents,” reported NPA.
The SDF and the Turkish forces clashed in Hasaka's Tel Tamer on Wednesnday when Ankara launched a ground attack in Um al- Kif village, said ANHA.
Turkey has not yet commented on the recent attacks.
Ankara has previously launched offensives in the districts.
Two people were killed in Turkish bombardment in Zirgan on August 17. Days later, Turkey carried out an aerial attack on Tel Tamer’s Military Council base, killing four members of the SDF, including Sosin Birhat, who was known for her bravery in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Turkey has conducted three military operations in northern Syria since 2016, two of them against Kurdish fighters who Ankara considers a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and a threat to its national security.
It has been threatening a new offensive against Kurdish forces in Rojava in the recent months.
SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi on Friday said Turkey is unable to undertake another “military adventure” against Rojava due to internal issues and international pressure.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in October said he had “no patience” with Kurdish forces in Tal Rifaat, a pocket of territory in the northern Aleppo countryside.
Updated at 11:43 am