A Syrian Kurdish armed group, the Afrin Liberation Forces, has reportedly infiltrated and killed pro-Turkish fighters in northern Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 14 casualties have been reported in the operation that took place on the outskirts of Al-Bab in Aleppo province. With artillery support amid factional fighting in the area, the Kurdish group carried out the ambush, targeting pro-Turkish fighters. The attack occurred as different groups were vying for control and influence in the region.
While the SOHR confirmed the death toll, a factional leader in the rebel-held area mentioned that the fighters who were killed belonged to a formation that had defected from pro-Turkish groups. The Afrin Liberation Forces consist of Kurdish fighters who were driven out of northwest Syria’s Afrin area during a Turkish offensive a few years ago and are now primarily concentrated in northern Aleppo province.
Turkey has launched multiple military offensives in Syria, mostly targeting Kurdish militants that are linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as part of a long-standing conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been advocating for the establishment of a safe zone along the border, extending 20 miles deep into Syrian territory.
The civil war in Syria has been ongoing for twelve years, marked by continuous bloodshed and various phases of violence. The conflict has resulted in over 500,000 fatalities, millions of people being displaced, and the complete devastation of the country’s infrastructure and industry.
