Turkey aims to keep tensions high in northeast Syria through targeted killings
In retaliation for a mysterious explosion along the Turkish-Syrian border, Turkey hit several Kurdish positions in the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani in an attack that the Kurds call a “war rehearsal” aiming to test the water.
Turkey appears to be aiming to maintain high tensions in northeast Syria through a series of Turkish drone strikes targeting senior Kurdish figures.
The relative calm in northern Syria that had taken hold after Turkey shelved its plan for a fresh military incursion against Syrian Kurdish groups in the absence of greenlights from Russia and the United States were shaken Jan. 8 after an improvised explosive device went off near Tell Abyad along the Turkish border, killing three Turkish soldiers.
In response to the attack, the Turkish army and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels hit several Kurdish positions near Kobani, Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain. According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, more than 10 Syrian militants were killed in the retaliation attacks.
Although the Kurdish-led self-rule in northeast Syria has denied the accusations, saying that the attack had nothing to do with them, the Turkish attacks have expanded to Hasakah and Tell Tamir. Local sources reported that at least 28 villages were taken under fire.
