Oct 25, V7N-In response to a recent deadly attack near Ankara, Turkey has significantly intensified its military actions in northern Syria, leading to substantial civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish drone strikes over a 24-hour period killed 27 civilians, while Turkish forces launched 45 drone strikes and four attacks by fighter jets targeting essential infrastructure, including power, water, and gas facilities.

The escalation follows an attack near Ankara that claimed five lives at a defense firm. Turkish officials attributed the attack to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. In retaliation, Turkish airstrikes on Wednesday hit alleged Kurdish militant positions in Iraq and Syria. The Turkish defense ministry reported destroying 32 targets in the operation.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported Thursday that Turkish airstrikes killed 12 civilians and wounded 25 others in northeastern Syria. The strikes reportedly hit civilian areas and vital facilities, such as bakeries, power stations, and oil facilities, along with SDF checkpoints. The SDF, a US-backed group instrumental in fighting ISIS in Syria, is largely made up of Kurdish YPG forces, whom Turkey sees as connected to the PKK. Turkey has maintained a military presence in northern Syria since 2016, primarily targeting the SDF and YPG forces.

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