Suspected Turkish bombardment targets northern Syria

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A civilian was killed and others were injured in suspected Turkish bombardment targeting a Kurdish town in northern Syria on Sunday.

The bombardment “heavily” hit several villages of Gire Spi (Tal Abyad) town, killing one civilian, reported Hawar News Agency (ANHA).

The media outlet did not specify the number of injuries.

North Press Agency (NPA) also reported the offense, claiming that an elderly man was injured.

Gire Spi and the neighboring Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) were controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), until Turkey and its Syrian proxies invaded in October 2019. Both towns were Kurdish-majority, but most people of the ethnicity have fled to other areas under the control of the SDF.

Sari Kani and Gire Spi now lie at opposite ends of a resulting ‘buffer zone’ under the control of Turkish-backed militias.

Located on the main route that crosses northern Syria, Ain Issa also came under fire on Sunday night after alleged Turkish bombardments hit the area, reported ANHA.

The damage caused by the assault was not disclosed.

Ain Issa also faced Turkish bombardment on Wednesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Turkey claims that the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization.