SDF: Turkiye kills nine family members in Northern Syria
Shafaq News/ A Turkish airstrike killed nine members of a single family south of Kobani in northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday.
In a statement, the US-backed SDF said a Turkish warplane struck a family working in agriculture in an area between the villages of Qomji and Barkh Botan, south of Kobani. Nine people were killed, and two others were wounded.
Nine Civilians Martyred, Two Wounded in A Turkish Massacre South of KobaniThe martyrdom toll from a Turkish airstrike on the area between the villages of Qomji and Barkh Botan, south of Kobani, has risen to nine civilians from the same family, with two additional family members… pic.twitter.com/y7uJWm0Kr9
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) March 17, 2025
The SDF, which controls much of northeastern Syria, played a key role in the US-led campaign against Islamic State. However, Turkiye considers the group a terrorist organization due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.
Ankara has long pushed for action against the People's Protection Units (YPG), the dominant faction within the SDF, viewing it as an extension of the PKK.
Turkiye, which has established close ties with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is pressing the new Syrian authorities to address the YPG’s presence in the country.
Since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024 after a 13-year civil war, Syria’s new leadership has sought to disband armed groups and reassert state control.
Al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi recently signed an agreement to integrate all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the Syrian state, including border crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields. The deal is set to take effect by the end of the year.
