SDF commemorates 6th anniversary of Turkish Qarachokh attack
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commemorated on Tuesday the Turkish attack on its forces on Mount Qarachokh, in northeast Syria, and confirmed collaboration between Turkey and Islamic State (ISIS).
“Today we recall 20 of our comrades who were martyred as a result of the Turkish terrorist aggression against the headquarters of the Military Operations Command against [Islamic State] ISIS and the Media Center of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Mount Qarachokh,” the statement read.
The Turkish bombing run on the mountain – the center of operations for the YPG in 2016 – occurred as the SDF were about to launch their final assault on Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria, – ISIS’ capital at the time.
“The Turkish aggression against Qarachokh confirms … the close and blatant cooperation between the Turkish occupation state and the terrorist organization ISIS,” the SDF added, “as the Turkish attacks helped ISIS to gain more time, organize its ranks and bring new members to undermine the efforts of eliminating it.”
The SDF also pointed out that the attack against Qarachokh was carried out on the memorial day for the Armenian genocide that was carried out by Ottoman Empire in 1915, pointing to Turkey’s long history of violence against its ethnic minorities.
Turkey uses all its capabilities to undermine security and stability in the region and destroy the safe environment for civilians, the statement read further.