Turkish airstrikes target Kurdish militant sites in Syria after US downs Turkiye's drone

Relatives mourn during the funeral of the victims of a drone attack targeting a Syrian military academy, outside a hospital in government-controlled Homs on October 6, 2023. Photo/AFP

Turkish military aircraft have launched airstrikes on suspected Kurdish militia targets in northern Syria following the downing of a Turkish armed drone by US forces. The drone had come within 500 meters of American troops before being shot down.

According to a statement from the Turkish defense ministry, the airstrikes targeted approximately 30 sites in the regions of Tal Rifat, Jazeera, and Derik. These strikes aimed to destroy caves, bunkers, shelters, and warehouses used by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated Kurdish militia group in Syria, known as the People's Defense Units (YPG).

Turkish airstrikes against Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria have increased in response to a recent suicide attack near the Turkish Interior Ministry building. The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack, in which one attacker detonated explosives, and another was killed in a confrontation with the police. Two police officers were injured.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated that the attackers had come from Syria, where they received training. As a result, PKK and YPG positions in Iraq and Syria have been designated as legitimate targets.

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In Washington, the Pentagon stated that the Turkish drone had approached US troops in Syria, prompting them to seek refuge in bunkers for safety. The decision to shoot down the drone of a NATO ally was described as a measure taken in self-defense to protect US forces. There was no indication that Turkey had deliberately targeted US forces, according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

Both US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General CQ Brown, the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, promptly contacted their Turkish counterparts to underscore the importance of their relationship with Turkey while emphasizing the need to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of US personnel. Approximately 900 US troops are stationed in Syria to combat ISIS militants.

This incident occurred on the same day as a drone attack in the Syrian government-controlled city of Homs, resulting in at least 89 casualties. Explosive-laden drones were used during a military graduation ceremony attended by young officers and their families. Syria's military attributed the attack to insurgents with backing from unspecified international forces and warned of a forceful response.

The Turkish defense ministry stated that its aerial operation in Syria aimed to protect Turkey's borders from threats posed by the PKK and YPG. Additionally, the ministry reported that Turkey had responded to an attack by militants on a Turkish base in the Dabik region, "neutralizing" 26 militants.

The PKK has been engaged in a protracted insurgency in Turkey, and it is designated as a terrorist organization by Western allies, including the United States. Conversely, the US considers the YPG a crucial partner in the fight against the Islamic State group in northern Syria and does not view the group as a threat to Turkey. (Agencies)