ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three fighters of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a drone strike in Kobane, northeast Syria, the force announced on Sunday, blaming Turkey.
On Saturday morning, three SDF fighters went to Kobane for medical treatment and as they left the city “they were attacked by a Turkish drone,” read a statement from the SDF, which is the main partner of the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Syria.
The three who were killed were identified as Hozan Qamishlo, Gali Aleppo, and Amed Afrin.
This is the second suspected Turkish drone strike in the Kobane area this week. On Wednesday, two people were killed when the car they were travelling in was hit. SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi condemned the attack and accused Turkey of violating ceasefire agreements.
Turkey’s defence ministry on Sunday claimed it “prevented another attack attempt and neutralized 5 PKK/YPG terrorists.” It did not detail its operations, but said it would not allow Kurdish forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and People’s Protection Units (YPG) to disturb security in the “Peace Spring region,” referring to an area of northeastern Syria covered by 2019 ceasefire agreements with Russia and the United States that ended a Turkish offensive to push Kurdish forces back from the border. The area includes Kobane.
Fears are growing in northeast Syria (Rojava) about a possible Turkish military operation following threats from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said he has “no patience” with Kurdish forces in the Tal Rifaat area north of Aleppo. Turkey alleges Kurdish fighters use this area as a base to launch attacks on their positions. The SDF denies the charge.
Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, in Brussels to participate in NATO meetings, said on Saturday his country is committed to the 2019 ceasefires. “Although there are some violations, clashes and attacks from time to time, the ceasefire and stability continue within the framework of the measures taken in general,” he said.
Turkey has conducted three military operations in northern Syria since 2016, two of them against Kurdish fighters who Ankara considers a branch of the PKK and a threat to its national security.
Updated at 12:27pm
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