SDF shoots down ISIS drones allegedly launched from govt areas
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SDF says it downed two ISIS drones in Raqqa and claims the militants launched them from Syrian government-held areas, urging the coalition to investigate.
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US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand guard at Al Naeem Square, in Raqqa, Syria, Monday, February 7, 2022 (AP)
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Wednesday that it downed two drones belonging to ISIS in eastern Raqqa, claiming they were launched from areas controlled by factions aligned with the Syrian government.
According to an SDF statement, the drones were intercepted on the Ghanim al-Ali axis, where SDF positions have faced repeated attacks over the past week. The first drone was identified as a Matrice M30 used for reconnaissance, while the second was an FPV attack drone designed to strike targets directly.
After securing the wreckage and analyzing the memory card recovered from the Matrice M30, SDF technical teams determined that the operators were foreign militants affiliated with ISIS. The analysis suggested they were operating from Syrian government-aligned positions opposite SDF defense lines.
Data reportedly links operators to foreign ISIS militants
The SDF asserted that the findings provide “conclusive evidence” of cooperation between certain Damascus-backed factions and ISIS cells, enabling the group to rebuild its drone warfare capabilities “in an even more dangerous form than before.”
The SDF media center released images and documentation to support its claims, saying the information underscores the security threat posed by such coordination and the impact on civilians and regional stability.
The statement called on international coalition partners to investigate the alleged involvement of foreign ISIS militants and the use of government-held territory for drone operations. It warned that ignoring these developments “threatens regional security and allows the organization to reorganize its ranks and terrorize civilians.”
'No more room for war'
The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, declared that Syria has reached a critical juncture where “there is no longer room for war,” stressing that comprehensive dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving the conflict that has devastated the country for over 13 years.
Speaking at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum in Duhok, located in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Abdi described the March 10 agreement as a pivotal moment that prevented Syria from descending into full-scale civil war.
It is worth noting that the March 10 agreement was signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Autonomous Administration, emphasizing the importance of partnership with the Kurds as an integral component of Syria, while also calling for a clear separation between the SDF and the broader Syrian Kurdish community.
He said the agreement marked a substantial step toward unity, blocking efforts to divide the country while securing constitutional recognition of Kurdish rights, despite the difficult political climate and partial mediation through which the accord was reached.
