QAMISHLI, Syria — On the evening of July 22, two missiles were launched from Ras al-Ain in the countryside of al-Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria toward Ceylanpinar on the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkish media reported that six people, including a child, were injured, while it remains unclear who was behind the missiles.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense said on July 23 in a statement carried by Anadolu News Agency, which is close to the Turkish government, that its forces on the Syrian border destroyed seven military positions belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) using heavy weapons in response to the two missiles launched from Syria. The statement indicated “the response was a legitimate defense mechanism.”

In a statement the SDF released July 23 on their website, they pledged to reveal the source of the missiles and expose the perpetrators of the incident they describe as provocative. They asserted that the perpetrators are unknown individuals who want to spark strife and destabilize the region.

The two missiles were launched July 23 as Ankara sent military reinforcements to Turkish forces and the Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition on the northwestern borders of Hasakah governorate, as the Turkish army braced for an imminent attack on Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad.