Three Kurdish women fighters killed by Turkish drone strike in northern Syria

Three fighters of the Kurdish-led Women's Protection Units (YPJ) were killed on Friday by a Turkish drone strike in an area under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

A vehicle of the YPJ was targeted by the drone south of the city of Manbij in Aleppo province, SOHR said. The strike left another YPJ fighter injured.

North Press Agency confirmed the incident and fatalities, citing Manbij Military Council saying the attack took place on the al-Hatabat road.

Turkish authorities claim that the YPJ, part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated a "terrorist group" by Ankara.

The number of attacks carried out by Turkish drones in AANES territories since early 2023 has risen to 48, according to SOHR, and these attacks have left 58 fatalities, including 13 civilians, while 52 were injured.

A recent United Nations human rights report drew attention to civilian fatalities in suspected Turkish drone strikes in northern Syria.

Photo: North Press Agency