Turkish artillery near the town of Kilis in south-central Turkey fire across the Syrian border on February 16, 2016. © Bulent Kilic / AFP
The Turkish military has struck several positions of the US-backed Syrians Democratic Forces (SDF) in response to a recent mortar attack on the southern Turkish city of Sanlıurfa.
In a statement released on July 23, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said that the strikes were a “legitimate response” to the mortar attack, which was reportedly carried out from the SDF-held town of Ras Al-Ayn.
“Seven positions on the Syrian side were destroyed, they had already been identified,” the Turkish statement reads.
According to Syrian opposition activist, the Turkish strikes claimed the lives of at least five SDF fighters and injured several others.
The Kurdish-dominated group, which had denied responsibility for the mortar attack on Sanlıurfa, has not commented on the Turkish strikes, so far.
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A similar exchange of fire between the Turkish military and the SDF took place earlier this year. Back then, the U.S. deployed troops along the border line putting an end to escalation. This will likely be the case this time too.