Suspected Turkish drone targets Russia-SDF joint military base

A suspected Turkish drone attacked a joint military base of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Russian forces in the town of Tel Tamr, north of Hasakah in northeast Syria, SDF_affiliated North Press Agency reported.

A military source of the SDF told North Press that a drone hit a military post inside the joint base of the SDF-Russian forces, locally known as al-Mabaqer station, in the afternoon.

As a result, an SDF fighter lost his life and three others were wounded.

The Russian forces have stationed in the al-Mabaqer station since 2019 following the Turkish invasion of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad as a guarantor state of the ceasefire agreement, North Press said.

There was no official statement from Russia or SDF, regarding the strike.

Since the latest surge in hostilities, at least 11 civilians have been killed in the Turkish attacks, according to SDF spokesperson Aram Hanna.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey would launch a ground operation in Syria “when convenient,” as cited by state media. He warned that the aerial incursion was “just the beginning” during a meeting in Ankara of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

However, in the statement issued with Moscow and Tehran after the Astana summit on Tuesday, Ankara reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity” of Syria. There was no mention of Turkish military attacks on Syria in the statement.