File image.
Late on September 16, a Turkish combat drone targeted a position of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the town of Ain Issa in the northern countryside of Syria’s Raqqa.
The drone strike reportedly killed five members of the SDF. Two were fighters of the group, while the rest were members of its Military Police unit.
In an initial response to the deadly strike, the SDF targeted positions of the Turkish military and its proxies in the villages of Jahbal and al-Misherfah which are located to the north of Ain Issa. A few hours later, the group shelled a Turkish base near the town of Azaz in the northern Aleppo countryside.
This was the second Turkish drone strike to target SDF-held areas in northern and northeastern Syria this month. The first strike, which took place on September 9, targeted a position of the group near the village of al-Tawillah to the West of Tell Tamer town in the northern al-Hasakah countryside. Back then, no casualties were reported.
Tensions in northern and northeastern Syria have been on the rise since May, when Turkey began threatening the SDF with a new large-scale operation.
The Turkish military and its proxies completed their preparations for a new operation in Syria around two months ago. However, Ankara is yet to pull the trigger.
Turkey is not interested in a de-escalation with the SDF. However, it has been working to restore relations with Syria. Ankara wants to coordinate and cooperate with Damascus against the SDF. This is seen by many in Turkey as the only way to end the threat posed by Kurdish forces in Syria.
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