Syria’s Kurdish Region Authority Condemns Turkey’s Airstrikes
By Kardo Roj
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) strongly condemned Turkish airstrikes on al-Shaddadi, south of Hasakah, which killed 12 people, including civilians, as tensions escalate between Ankara and Kurdish-led forces.
In a statement on Wednesday, AANES accused Turkey of deliberately targeting civilian areas and military positions in an effort to destabilize the region and facilitate the resurgence of Islamic State (ISIS) cells. The administration urged the international community to take immediate action to prevent further aggression.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that Turkish warplanes and drones launched multiple airstrikes on rural areas of al-Shaddadi, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, including both SDF fighters and civilians.
“The Turkish state continues its attacks on North and East Syria with warplanes and drones. Today, it has once again targeted al-Rwaished desert in al-Shaddadi, causing significant loss of life,” the AANES statement read.
Local sources reported that at least five of the victims were civilians, including a shepherd and his family, who were in the vicinity when the strikes occurred. Rescue teams and medical personnel rushed to the scene, but several victims had already succumbed to their injuries.
Turkey has yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest strikes. However, Ankara has repeatedly justified its military operations in northern Syria by claiming they target the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliates.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to continue military actions against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), accusing them of harboring PKK fighters. The SDF, however, denies these allegations and argues that Turkey’s actions amount to aggression against Kurdish-led forces who played a key role in defeating ISIS in Syria.
The latest attack comes amid increasing Turkish drone strikes across northeastern Syria, with previous operations targeting infrastructure, energy facilities, and security checkpoints controlled by the AANES. The SDF has warned that continued attacks risk destabilizing the region and emboldening ISIS sleeper cells.
In its statement, AANES held the international community responsible for failing to curb Turkey’s military actions in Syria.
“We call on the global community to take a clear stance and act immediately to halt these attacks. Turkey’s continued aggression threatens the security of the entire region and enables ISIS to regain strength,” the statement added.
Despite repeated appeals, there has been little direct intervention from global powers, including the United States and Russia, both of which maintain a military presence in Syria. While the U.S. has previously condemned Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish-led forces, it has stopped short of imposing any measures to deter further escalation.
Russia, which has brokered previous agreements between Turkey and the Syrian government, has also remained largely silent on the latest developments. However, experts suggest that Moscow may seek to use the situation to pressure Kurdish forces into negotiations with Damascus.
As Turkish airstrikes continue across northern Syria, concerns grow over a potential resurgence of ISIS, which has carried out multiple attacks in recent months. The SDF has warned that its ability to conduct counterterrorism operations is hampered by Turkish military aggression, diverting resources away from fighting ISIS remnants.
With diplomatic efforts stalled and Ankara showing no signs of de-escalation, tensions in the region are expected to persist, raising fears of further civilian casualties and instability in an already volatile region.