The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of militant groups in northern Syria dominated by Kurdish organizations, reported ongoing bombardments near the city of Kobani, bordering Turkey. The SDF expressed concerns over the risk of war due to continuous provocations by Turkey and its supporters, citing attacks using heavy artillery and drones in rural areas south and west of Kobani.
Tragically, two paramedics lost their lives when their ambulance was struck by a drone, and a woman was killed in a separate vehicle attack. The SDF alleged that Turkish warplanes and drones were highly active in the airspace over Kobani, Manbij, and other regions. In Raqqa, two drone strikes were reported, with social media videos capturing a plume of smoke rising in one location.
While the Turkish military and intelligence declined to comment on the strikes, Turkish-backed factions in northern Syria, who also possess attack drones, have remained silent on the situation in Raqqa. Notably, a US military convoy was observed at the northern entrance of Raqqa, where approximately 900 US troops are stationed, collaborating with the SDF since 2017 to combat the remnants of ISIS in northern Syria.
The pro-Turkish factions involved in the conflict in northern Syria are part of a coalition that initiated a rebel offensive against the Assad regime recently. Consequently, clashes have erupted with Kurdish groups in areas of northern Syria that have been under Kurdish control for a significant portion of the past decade.
