ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several members of a paramilitary group were killed in a recent suspected Turkish attack that targeted the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria, a military official said early Monday.
Five members of the Revolutionary Youths were killed in a “Turkish raid that targeted the gathering of nine people of the youths organization [Revolutionary Youths] in a house in Kobane,” commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi tweeted.
A Turkish drone targeted Kobane on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. However, the conflict monitor raised the death toll to six on Monday and three other injuries.
Turkey has not confirmed the offensive yet.
The Revolutionary Youth is believed to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and operates in the Kurdish area in Syria as a pressure group, intimidating those who are critical of the Kurdish administration.
The PKK is named a terrorist group in Turkey.
Ankara often targets north and northeastern Syria (Rojava), killing and injuring civilians and security forces.
It has conducted three military operations in northern Syria since 2016, two of them against Kurdish fighters whom it considers a branch of the PKK and a threat to its national security.
Suspected Turkish shelling killed four people in Zirgan district on Wednesday.
Turkey has been threatening a new offensive against Kurdish forces in Rojava in the recent months. But, Abdi earlier this month said Turkey is unable to undertake another “military adventure” against Rojava due to internal issues and international pressure.
