File image.
On September 22, a new wave of Turkish airstrikes hit areas held by the Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria’s northern region.
At least four airstrikes targeted positions of the Kurdish-led group in the outskirts of the town of Maraanaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The Hawar news agency reported that the airstrikes resulted in some material losses, without elaborating.
The airstrikes were a response to an indirect fire attack that targeted a Turkish military base in the outskirts of the town of Azaz in the morning. Azaz is located just three kilometers to the northeast of Maraanaz. No casualties or material losses were reported.
The attack was attributed to the SDF, which was likely responding to a Turkish drone strike that killed civilians near the town of Ain Issa in the northern Raqqa countryside on September 21.
This was the second wave of Turkish airstrikes to target SDF-held areas in northern and northeastern Syria in less than a week. On September 18, several airstrikes hit positions of the group and the Syrian government forces near the town of Kobane in the northeastern Aleppo countryside. Two soldiers and several Kurdish fighters were killed as a result of the airstrikes.
Turkey has been threatening the SDF with a new large-scale military operation for around three months now. The Turkish military and its proxies in northern and northeastern Syria completed their preparations a while ago. However, Ankara is yet to give the order.
The recent Turkish airstrikes were not likely related to Ankara’s recent threats, but rather just a bold attempt to deter the SDF.
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