This week, Turkey launched a new wave of airstrikes against Rojava’s infrastructure in retaliation for the death of at least 12 of its soldiers in the Kurdistan Region by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Oil fields, refineries, and electricity stations were among the key targets of the Turkish army.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitor, reported that Turkey has conducted 48 airstrikes in northeast Syria (Rojava) since Monday. Rojava is ruled by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Turkey targeted Rojava’s vital infrastructure, including power stations, hospitals, grain warehouses, factories, and construction companies.
Eight civilians were killed and 18 others, including women and children, were injured, according to the DAANES.
The airstrikes targeted 36 positions in Qamishli, and 12 positions in Kobane, according to SOHR.
The DAANES said in a statement on Tuesday that more than 2,600 villages were left in complete darkness as a result of Turkish airstrikes targeting power stations in the city of Qamishli.
Turkish state media reported on Tuesday that Ankara has destroyed nearly 50 facilities allegedly belonging to the PKK in Qamishli, Kobane, and Amuda, adding that “high-profile terrorists” were targeted in the strikes.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Wednesday that the Turkish retaliatory airstrikes targeted 71 in Rojava and Kurdistan Region, “neutralizing” 59 members of the PKK and its alleged Syria offshoots. Turkey uses the term “neutralize” to denote that adversaries were captured, wounded, or killed.
Turkey carried out similar attacks against Rojava’s infrastructure in October as a response to PKK’s attack on the Turkish interior ministry in Ankara. The strikes caused widespread blackouts in Rojava at the time.
Ankara claims that the Kurdish forces controlling Rojava are linked to the PKK but they have denied any ties with the armed group.
Thousands of people on Tuesday attended the funeral ceremonies of six of the people killed during Turkish attacks in Qamishli.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said none of their members were killed in the strikes.
The SDF on Monday called on the people of Rojava to “act with awareness and responsibility” and to refrain from relying “solely on external protection,” urging them to “actively” join the ranks of the Kurdish-led force, and called on the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) and Russia to break their silence regarding the recent escalation of Turkish strikes.
Adam Sigelman, deputy director and spokesperson of the US state department for Near Eastern Affairs told Rudaw English on Tuesday that Washington was “dismayed by recent airstrikes across northern Syria that killed and injured civilians and struck civilian infrastructure,” without directly mentioning Turkey.
“We urge an immediate de-escalation of violence and respect for established ceasefire lines,” added Sigelman.
