Türkiye launches drone attack on PKK/YPG position as clashes intensify in Syria's Raqqa

Turkish drones have launched a targeted airstrike on a PKK/YPG checkpoint in the village of Lakta, located north of Raqqa. 

The attack is part of Türkiye's ongoing efforts to combat the terrorist group’s presence in northern Syria.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), fierce clashes continue between the PKK/YPG fighters and the Syrian National Army (SNA), which is bolstered by Turkish fighter jets and drones, per Caliber.Az.

The PKK, a group that has waged a violent 40-year campaign against Türkiye, is classified as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU. This group has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women and children, in their insurgency.

For Türkiye, both the PKK and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, continue to pose significant threats not only to Türkiye’s borders but also to the territorial integrity of Syria. In a statement issued last week, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reiterated that these groups remain legitimate targets in the country’s counterterrorism operations.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Türkiye has repeatedly called for the disbandment of the YPG/PKK forces in Syria. In response, Ankara has launched multiple military operations aimed at neutralizing its presence in the region since 2016, marking a continued and aggressive stance against the terrorist groups.

By Tamilla Hasanova