Türkiye launches airstrikes in Syria, Iraq: Dozens reportedly killed, including journalist, soldiers

(Photo: MA)

• Türkiye carried out airstrikes on a wide area from Syria's northwest to Qandil Mountains in Iraq's Kurdistan region

• The strikes targeted the PKK and YPG in retaliation for last week's bomb attack in İstanbul, Ankara says. Both groups had denied involvement in the attack

• Syrian army positions were also targeted in the strikes

• Türkiye reportedly used airspace controlled by Russia for the first time in years

• Dozens were reportedly killed in the strikes, including SDF fighters, Syrian government soldiers and a journalist

• The HDP accused the government of "trying to prolong its life" by attacking the Kurds in Syria

• The SDF criticized the lack of reactions from the international powers

Türkiye carried out airstrikes targeting several locations in the north of Syria and Iraq in the early hours of today (November 20).

The strikes came in response to last Sunday's deadly bomb attack in İstanbul, according to the National Defense Ministry. The government held the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the People's Protections Units (YPG) in Syria responsible for the bombing. while both groups denied involvement.

The National Defense Ministry announced the strikes with a Twitter message, saying, "The scoundrels are being held accountable for their treacherous attacks!"

Later in a written statement, the ministry said Türkiye had launched the "Claw Sword Air Operation" in an exercise of its right to self-defense as per article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and targeted the areas "terrorist groups used as bases for attacks on our country."

Eighty-nine targets were hit during the air raids, the ministry said.

NTV reported that Türkiye's aircraft used airspace controlled by Russia for the first time in three years.

The areas hit by the F-16 jets and drones include the regions of Tel Rifaat, Kobanî, the countryside of Tell Abyad (Girê Spî), and Al Hasakah in Syria, and Shingal (Sinjar), Sulaymaniyah and Qandil regions in Iraq, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) and Kurdish media oulets in Syria.

At least 65 people were killed in the strikes, including civilians, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters and Syrian soldiers, SOHR reported.

Isam Abdullah, a reporter for the Syria-based Hawar News Agency (ANHA) was among those who were killed in the strikes on the Dêrik (Al Malikiyah) town in al Hasakah, the agency said. Two airstrikes killed a total of nine people in the town, it reported.

An anonymous army officer quoted by Syria's state-run SANA agency confirmed the reports of killed soldiers. "A number of army personnel were killed in Turkish attacks on Syrian territory in northern Aleppo and the Hasakah countryside at dawn on Sunday," he was quoted as saying.

Locations targeted in the strikes, according to SOHR:

Statements from SDF and PYD

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the SDF, denounced the stikes on Twitter, saying, "Turkish bombing of our safe areas threatens the whole region. This bombing is not in favor of any party. We are making every effort to avoid a major catastrophe. If war erupts, all will be affected.

"The attacks will not be limited to our regions which are now being subjected to aggressive and barbaric bombing. We call on our families to stay in their homes and abide by the directives of the Security Forces."

Farhad Shami, a spokesperson for the SDF, tweeted, "They have killed many of our people, and we will retaliate in the way that the allies of ISIS and HTS understand."

Foza Yusif, a senior member of the PYD, condemned the strikes and criticized "international powers" for their lack of reaction.

"We condemned these attacks ... which threaten all the constituents of the North and East Syria and Syria's territorial integrity," he told ANHA. "We also condemned the silence of the international powers in the face of these attacks."

Turkish bombing of our safe areas threatens the whole region.
This bombing is not in favor of any party.
We are making every effort to avoid a major catastrophe. If war erupts, all will be affected. (1)

— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) November 19, 2022

Reactions from Türkiye

Following the strikes, several government officials shared tweets in support of the operation, while the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) criticized it.

Vice President Fuat Oktay wrote, "Our Turkish Armed Forces, which suddenly illuminated the night and turned it into the day, are holding the traitors accountable one by one. We will continue to make the traitors pay a price."

Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun tweeted, "With the Claw Sword Operation, which started last night and was successfully executed, targets belonging to the terrorists were destroyed. We will continue to foil the efforts of terrorism and those who protect terrorism and to destroy terrorism in its source."

In a written statement, the HDP said the government used the İstanbul bombing as an excuse to attack North and East Syria.

"It's clear that the government wants to complete what ISIS could not achieve in these lands by disregarding international law. North and East Syria is not a security threat but a hope for humanity!

"The previous occupation attacks on Afrin and other Kurdish regions have turned the occupied regions into living spaces for ISIS and its derivatives. The attacks are not for ensuring border security as the government claims. On the contrary, they increase threats and dangers against Türkiye. It's not the Kurds who pose a threat to Türkiye, it's ISIS and its derivatives, which are thriving in the Kurds' occupied living spaces.

"The AKP-MHP government, which can't rule the country and is trying to prolong its life by the strategy of internal oppression and external conflict, is pulling the country into a great swamp day by day."

(VK)