Syria
Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gather near a village north-east of Raqqa in February 2017. AFP file photo
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - For a second consecutive day, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused Damascus-affiliated factions of shelling the town of Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo, reaffirming their right to self-defense.
In a statement on Telegram, the SDF said "pro-government “al-Amshat” factions targeted the densely populated town with mortar shells, heavy weapons, and suicide drones, damaging the electricity grid."
The Suleiman Shah Division, commonly known as al-Amshat, along with the Hamza Division (al-Hamzat), are Turkey-backed armed factions that have resisted integration into Syria’s new military structure formed after the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
In August 2023, the US Treasury sanctioned both factions for “serious human rights abuses” in the Kurdish city of Afrin, northwest Syria. The European Union later imposed similar sanctions.
The SDF added that the same factions also shelled Tell Seryatl near the Tishrin Dam using mortars and heavy weapons, describing the attacks as a “planned escalation.”
“We affirm that our forces have the legitimate right to respond in defense of our people and to preserve security and stability in our regions,” the statement said.
It detailed that the attack "constitutes a planned escalation, and we affirm that our forces have the legitimate right to respond to these attacks in defense of our people and to preserve the security and stability of our regions."
On Monday, the SDF similarly accused al-Amshat militants of indiscriminately shelling areas east of Aleppo. The accusation came after state-run al-Ikhbariya TV reported that the Syrian Arab Army had targeted alleged SDF drone launch sites near Deir Hafer, claiming drone attacks injured civilians and military police, while noting the army’s response would be “limited.”
Earlier, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the defense ministry as accusing the SDF of targeting a military police checkpoint with drones near army positions, describing it as part of an “ongoing escalation.”
The SDF “categorically” denied the allegations, holding the ministry’s media arm responsible for the consequences of its statements and reiterating its commitment to restraint and existing communication channels with Damascus.
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