Ankara reports four Turkish soldiers injured in assaults in Syria

Ankara has reported that four Turkish soldiers were wounded in artillery and rocket attacks by Kurdish militants on bases in northern Syria. The attacks were carried out by two groups; the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which leads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey and many Western nations deem a terrorist organization. In recent years, Turkey has carried out multiple cross-border military incursions into northern Syria and has several bases there.

The defense ministry confirmed that the wounded soldiers had been sent to the hospital, and they were given “ample response” through strong attacks on targets. In a speech delivered in the southeastern city of Sanliurfa, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated that “we could never be safe while there is an armed terrorist organization” in Syria and Iraq. He further added that “hopefully in the upcoming term we will increasingly continue our efforts in this direction,” referring to the elections set for May 14.

The conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish groups in Syria has been ongoing for years, and the violence has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of civilians. Ankara sees the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and the PKK as a national security threat due to their links with Kurdish separatists in Turkey. The US, on the other hand, has supported the YPG and the SDF in their fight against ISIS in Syria. This has caused tensions between the two NATO allies, with Turkey accusing the US of supporting terrorist organizations.

The attacks on Turkish bases in northern Syria are a reminder that the conflict is far from over, and there are still significant challenges to be overcome. The recent attacks are likely to further exacerbate tensions between Turkey and the Kurdish groups in Syria, making the situation more complicated. It remains to be seen how Ankara will respond to the attacks and whether it will further escalate the conflict in northern Syria.