Turkey shells Tel Rifaat as Syrian Democratic Forces counter terror attacks in Dayro Zcuro Province

TEL RIFAAT, DAYRO ZCURO, Syria – The Turkish Army continues its violations in North and East Syria. On Tuesday, the Turkish forces stationed in the occupied city of Azaz targeted with artillery shells the centre of Tel Rifaat town in Al-Shahba Canton.
The attack resulted in injuring 5 civilians, including children, in addition to extensive damage to public and private property. The artillery bombardment targeted the first, sixth and seventh Communes, which include tens of thousands of displaced people from Cafrin (Afrin) Canton.

The People’s Protection Units (YPG), now under the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), gained control of Tel Rifaat from the Islamic State (ISIS) in early 2016 and established the administration of Shahba Canton. It became a refuge for citizens of Cafrin as the Turkish forces entered the Canton in March of 2018.

The Al-Shahba territory is surrounded by the Turkish army and its proxies of the so-called ‘Syrian National Army’ to the north and the Syrian Ba’ath regime to the south. However, the SDF of North and East Syria continue to resist the ongoing terrorist attacks on the region.
Meanwhile the Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor) Military Council in Al-Zar town, east of Dayro Zcuro city confronted ISIS terrorists who tried to target a military checkpoint. During the firefight, which lasted for around one hour, an ISIS terrorist was killed and another sustained injuries.

A source within the SDF confirmed that “the gunmen were the ones who had attacked a military point of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council forces last week on February 10”. This ambush saw the martyrdom of five SDF members,” the source added.