Syria
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are a Kurdish-led alliance spearheaded by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). AFP file photo
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Friday that two villages under their control in northern Syria came under drone attack by groups allied with the Damascus government.
“A drone belonging to factions affiliated with the Damascus government bombed the villages of Imam and Umm Tina, located north of Deir Hafer in the eastern Aleppo countryside,” the SDF said in a statement.
The same factions also “targeted the crossing in the area with sniper fire,” it added. “The bombing caused material damage to the villages and surrounding areas, with no casualties reported.”
The SDF is the de facto military force in northeast Syria (Rojava) and the main on-the-ground partner of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Syrian government joined the coalition last month.
For several months, the SDF and Damascus have repeatedly accused the other of attacking their positions. Last week, the SDF said government-affiliated forces targeted one of its outposts in Deir ez-Zor province, “seriously” injuring one of its fighters.
The two sides continue talks on implementing a March agreement to integrate the SDF into the Syrian national army. Key disagreements persist, however: the SDF wants to join as a unified force, while Damascus insists on absorbing fighters individually into regular army units. SDF officials have recently noted a more flexible tone from the transitional government on the issue.
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