Syrian Kurds shoot down Turkish Bayraktar drone over Rojava

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,—The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced Wednesday that they successfully shot down a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone near the Qereqozax Bridge, located south of Kobane in Syrian Kurdistan. According to the SDF’s statement, this marks the third such drone to be downed by their forces in the past month.

The SDF, the de facto army of the autonomous Kurdish administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), stressed the significance of these drones, calling them a central component of Turkey’s military operations in the region. The group said Turkish drones have played a key role in what it describes as “colonial invasions” and have been involved in multiple attacks against Kurdish forces and civilians.

The statement reiterated that Turkish drones are considered a major target, with the SDF vowing to use all available resources to bring them down.

In recent months, tensions in northern Syria have escalated, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issuing a stark ultimatum to Kurdish militants on December 25. Erdogan warned that those who refuse to disarm will “be buried,” signaling Turkey’s growing frustration with Kurdish forces in the region.

The message came amid escalating clashes between Turkey-backed Syrian Islamist mercenary factions and Kurdish groups, especially after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces retreat from parts of northern Syria.

Kurdish SDF forces shoot down Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone over Syrian Kurdistan, Rojava, Jan 1, 2025. Photo: SDF Press

Turkey has long viewed the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), a key faction of the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is banned by Ankara.

Turkey remains opposed to any form of Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria, fearing it could inspire Kurdish separatist movements within its own borders.

SDF leader General Mazloum Abdi denied any formal organizational links between the SDF and the PKK, asserting that the SDF is an independent force with no direct ties to the banned group.

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, governs the region under a system emphasizing secularism, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.

Despite ongoing military challenges, the administration continues to stabilize northeastern Syria, particularly in the face of threats from both Turkey and other regional actors. This conflict is one of many in the wider context of Syria’s civil war, where shifting alliances and territorial control remain fluid.