SDF vow revenge for death of AANES official in Turkish attack

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish forces in northern Syria on Sunday vowed to use “legitimate and appropriate military methods” to avenge the death of an official of the executive council of the autonomous Syrian Kurdish administration who was earlier targeted by a Turkish drone in the Kurdistan Region.

A Turkish drone targeted a vehicle carrying alleged members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Sulaimani province’s Kalar town on Friday, killing at least four and wounding another.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on Saturday confirmed the death of the deputy chairman of its executive council, Farhad Shibli, adding that no information is yet available on the identities of the other casualties.

The statement also called on the Iraqi and Kurdish governments to "clarify their positions on the terrorist act."

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said they “will not forgive” Turkey for the “crime,” stressing “revenge by legitimate and appropriate military methods.”

Turkey frequently targets alleged PKK hideouts in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains. It launched a new military operation against the armed group in Duhok in April.

The PKK is an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey and is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.

The NATO-ally has recently renewed threats to carry out a new military operation against the SDF in northern Syria. It has carried out two major assaults against the force in the area since 2018.

Turkey claims that the backbone of the US-allied SDF, named the People’s Protection Units (YPG), is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. It is also viewed as a terrorist organization by Ankara.