The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Wednesday that they had successfully shot down a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone near the Qaraqozak Bridge in northern Raqqa.
According to the SDF Media Center, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time.
“At exactly 1:00 p.m. today, our fighters successfully downed a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone in the Qaraqozak Bridge area,” the statement read.
The SDF has accused Turkey and its allied opposition factions of repeated violations of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. The violations include attacks on several strategic locations such as the outskirts of Kobani, Tishreen Dam, and Ain Issa.
“The Turkish state and its proxies are intensifying their aggression, ignoring all de-escalation efforts,” the SDF emphasized in their statement.
The ceasefire agreement, mediated by the United States, was intended to stabilize northern Syria following years of conflict. However, tensions remain high, with both Turkey and the SDF trading accusations of undermining the fragile truce.
Turkey’s involvement in northern Syria reflects its broader regional strategy to assert influence in the power vacuum created by the ongoing Syrian civil war. Since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Ankara has positioned itself as a key player in shaping the region’s future.
Despite Turkey’s NATO alliance with the United States, its military operations in Syria frequently target the SDF, a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State (IS). The SDF, led by the Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG), played a critical role in the defeat of IS in northeast Syria, including the group’s final holdout in Baghuz in March 2019.
Turkey views the YPG, which makes up the bulk of the SDF’s fighting force, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey, advocating for greater autonomy and rights for ethnic Kurds. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
While the SDF has been a steadfast ally of the U.S. in the fight against IS, its relationship with Turkey has been fraught with hostility. This latest drone incident underscores the delicate and often contradictory dynamics of alliances in northern Syria, where regional and global powers continue to compete for influence.
