Suspected Turkish drone kills four Asayish members in Raqqa

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Four members of the internal security forces (Asayish) were killed when a suspected Turkish drone targeted their vehicle in Syria's Raqqa province, local media reported as the region experiences a spike in attacks amid Turkey’s threats of launching a military operation in the area.

"A drone targeting our forces in Ain Issa while performing their duty resulted in the martyrdom of four members," Hawar News Agency (ANHA) cited the Asayish as saying. 

The car was targeted by a drone in Raqqa’s Ain Issa.

Following the attack, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi said targeting Asayish members "threatens [the] area's security directly" as they are in charge of protecting the security of the cities, displacement camps and Islamic State (ISIS) detention centers. 

The threat of a Turkish invasion into northern Syria has recently gained momentum, with Ankara targeting key leaders of the SDF and launching a spate of drone attacks on Kurdish forces.

Abdi said "Turkish drones" have targeted nine SDF fighters, four Asayish members, and 13 civilians in the past eight days. 

The SDF on Saturday confirmed the death of one of its commanders and two other fighters who were targeted by a Turkish drone a day before. Abdi vowed to avenge their deaths. 

A recent trilateral summit in Tehran between the Turkish, Russian, and Iranian heads of state failed to discourage Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from going ahead with his plans to carry out a military offensive in northern Syria, aimed at creating a 30 kilometer "safe zone” by expelling Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij and Tal Rifaat. 

Turkey views the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and considers both groups terrorists.

Updated at 3:05 pm