This week, Turkey launched a new wave of airstrikes against northeast Syria’s (Rojava) infrastructure in retaliation for the death of at least 12 of its soldiers in the Kurdistan Region by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Oil fields and refineries and electricity stations were among the key targets of the Turkish army.
“We are dismayed by recent airstrikes across northern Syria that killed and injured civilians and struck civilian infrastructure,” a State Department spokesperson told Rudaw English on Tuesday without directly mentioning Turkey.
In addition to the damage to the infrastructure, at least eight civilians have been killed and 18 others, including women and children, have been injured as a result of the strikes, according to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) which rules Rojava.
“We urge an immediate de-escalation of violence and respect for established ceasefire lines,” the spokesperson added.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday criticized the silence of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) towards the recent Turkish airstrikes, expressing hope for a “clear stance.”
DAANES said in a statement on Tuesday that Turkey carried out 40 attacks, seven with war planes and the rest with drones, against vital facilities, including power stations, hospitals, grain warehouses, factories, and construction companies. The attacks left over 2,600 villages in Rojava without power.
Turkish state media reported on Tuesday that Ankara has destroyed nearly 50 facilities allegedly belonging to the PKK in Qamishli, Kobane and Amuda, adding that “high-profile terrorists” were targeted in the strikes.
Ankara claims that the Kurdish forces controlling Rojava are linked to the PKK but they have denied any ties with the armed group.