Turkish air force targets PKK/YPG positions in northern Syria VIDEO

Turkish fighter jets launched a series of airstrikes targeting positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish militia backed by the US and affiliated with the PKK/YPG, in the eastern part of Aleppo.

The airstrikes hit positions in Sad Teshrin and the town of Deir Hafer, located southeast of the city of Manbij, Caliber.Az reports citing Syrian sources.

NEW: Several Turkish F-16 fighter jets conducted airstrikes near the Tishrin Dam in northeast of Aleppo, targeting PKK/YPG/SDF terror group. pic.twitter.com/06vUpTzGFC

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2025

Turkish artillery also shelled Abo Raseen Town and Tel Tamr countryside north western of Al-Hasakah. However, no casualties were reported.

Earlier in the day, a Turkish drone attacked a military position of SDF in Boujaq village in southern Sarrin town in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside, but no casualties were reported.

This was the second drone attack in a matter of hours.

Two members of the Internal Security Forces “Asayish”, who were guarding the municipal building in Hurriyah town, were injured in an attack carried out by Turkish drone on the municipal building in Al-Tabaqah countryside in western Al-Raqqah countryside.

The PKK has been engaged in a violent insurgency against Türkiye since 1984. It operates primarily from mountainous regions in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, where it establishes hideouts and training camps.

The group has carried out numerous attacks, targeting civilians, military personnel, and infrastructure across Türkiye. Recognised as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, the PKK’s violent activities have led to the deaths of over 40,000 people, including innocent civilians, women, children, and the elderly.

The PKK’s ideological foundation stems from its goal of creating an independent Kurdish state or autonomous Kurdish regions within Türkiye. Over time, its tactics have shifted from conventional warfare to asymmetric strategies, including bombings, assassinations, and ambushes. Despite several peace processes, the conflict remains unresolved, with continued instability in the region.

The group's presence in northern Iraq complicates international relations, with Türkiye frequently conducting military operations in pursuit of PKK militants, which strains diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Iraq, as well as Türkiye and other regional actors. The PKK’s enduring presence in the region continues to pose significant challenges to the security and stability of the broader Middle East.

By Vafa Guliyeva