For the third day in a row, Türkiye continued its intense air and ground bombardment on the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern and eastern Syria.
The operation is part of an ongoing response to an attack by two Kurdistan Workers' Party members targeting the Ministry of Interior in Ankara last Sunday.
On Saturday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said that Turkish forces "neutralized" at least 14 Kurdish militants and destroyed 15 targets on Friday night on Kurdish sites in northern Syria.
In a statement, the ministry added that the Turkish security forces strongly hit YPG/PKK terrorists in the Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring regions following the principle of self-defense.
The statement stressed that all precautions were taken during the operations to prevent innocent civilians, friendly elements referring to US forces, and historical, cultural, and environmental assets from being harmed.
- 65 sites bombed
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 65 sites were targeted by Turkish airstrikes, including 45 civilian targets and vital civilian infrastructure.
The Observatory noted that the Turkish forces bombed the Jarh area and Tal Kayf and Tal Jahan villages in the northern countryside of Hasakah amid a state of panic among the civilians.
Turkish warplanes carried out four airstrikes targeting the Qarachokh Mountain area and the Khana Sari water station.
Turkish forces and factions of the Syrian National Army loyal to Ankara targeted several villages northwest of al-Hasakah with heavy artillery.
- Civilian displacement
Several reports indicated that civilians in targeted areas moved towards safe zones amid a state of terror and panic against the backdrop of the continuous bombardment by drones and military aircraft on vital sites in northeastern Syria.
A Turkish officer and soldier were killed Saturday after SDF forces targeted a Turkish military base in Sidon, northwest of Ain Issa in Raqqa, and a base south of Ras al-Ain in the northern countryside of Hasakah.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Presidency denied allegations claiming that Turkish warplanes bombed a hospital in the Derik area in northern Syria.
In a statement on social media platform X, the government agency's Center for Combating Disinformation denied the allegations, stressing that all necessary precautions are taken during Türkiye's aerial operations against the terror group YPG/PKK in Syria to ensure the safety of innocent civilians, friendly forces, historical and cultural assets, and the environment.
- Turkish-US coordination
Furthermore, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asserted that the US needs to abandon working with the "terrorist Kurdish People's Units organization" in Syria.
In a phone call, Fidan asserted to his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, that Türkiye will continue with all determination its operations to combat terrorism in Iraq and Syria.
The statement added that the two ministers discussed the deconfliction mechanism to prevent clashes with the US forces active in Syria and Iraq within the framework of the ongoing Turkish operations in the region.
"It was agreed that the deconfliction mechanism should be operated effectively in a way that does not hinder our fight against terrorism," noted the Turkish readout.
- A common goal
The US State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said the two ministers underscored that the United States and Türkiye share a common objective of defeating terrorist threats.
Miller added: "Regardless of where the threats are based—in Syria, Iraq, or elsewhere—they undermine the security of the United States, Türkiye, and our allies," adding that the Secretary highlighted the need to coordinate the deconflict the activities.
On Thursday, the Pentagon said the US military shot down an armed Turkish drone that came within 500 meters of US troops in northeastern Syria, calling it a "regrettable incident."
- Displaced persons' appeal
The displaced people of Ras al-Ayn camp, east of Hasakah, issued a statement calling the guarantor states to end Turkiye's violations in their regions.
The statement condemned the "hostile attacks" on northeastern Syria, which have not stopped since last Thursday and affected vital facilities, stressing that the region's instability will lead ISIS to resurface.
It stressed the need for the US and Russia to fulfill their responsibilities.
