Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Update: the Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that four Turkish service members were killed in the explosions, holding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) responsible.
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Two car bombs exploded on January 8 in the Turkish-occupied part of northeast Syria, reportedly killing several Turkish service members.
The Step News Agency said that the first booby-trapped car exploded in the town al-Arbaeen, while the second one targeted the town of Umm Ushbah. Both towns are located in the vicinity of the border town of Ras al-Ayn in northern al-Hasakah.
According to the pro-opposition agency, the two explosions, which reportedly targeted checkpoints, killed two Turkish service members and two Turkish-backed Syrian militants. Many others were reportedly wounded.
“The wounded were transported to a field hospital in the area of Viranşehir on the Syrian-Turkish border, later to the 500 hospital in Şanlıurfa,” the Step News Agency’s reporter said.
Several opposition sources and activists confirmed the information provided by the Step News Agency. However, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense is yet to comment on the matter.
Last December, the Turkish military established dozens of checkpoints between the border towns of Ras al-Ayn and Tell Abyad in northeast Syria. The step was taken following a series of bombings, which targeted Turkish-occupied areas in the region.
Turkey claims that Kurdish forces are behind these bombings. However, no hard evidence supporting these claims has been presented so far.
A very classic fake news by Kurdish communist guerilla (PKK/YPG/SDF) to take the peace corridor (M4 highway) back. Those fake news will disappear when peaceful Kurdish parties coalition ENKS supported by Barzani will take over control of the Rojava. Guerilla will never bring the peace.