Senior US-Backed Militia Commander Killed in Bomb Blast in Northeastern Syria

Zanarin, a high-ranking SDF commander, was killed after a bomb-laden vehicle of the militia group went off in Raqqa city, the sources said, adding that two of Zanarin's aides were also injured in the blast.

The sources further added that Zanarin was one of the members of Raqqa's Joint Management Board.

In the meantime, an SDF security member was gunned down by unknown raiders in al-Saqiyah street in Moeilah neighborhood in Raqqa. 

Turkish President Rajab Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Ankara would launch an operation in the East of Euphrates in Syria in a few days to save it from separatist terrorist organization.

"We expressed that we will launch an operation in East of Euphrates in a few days to save it from a separatist terrorist organization," Erdogan stated at the Turkish Defense Industry Summit.

Erdogan added Turkey's target has never been US soldiers, but rather members of terror group.

"It is clear that the purpose of US observation points (in Syria) is not to protect our country from terrorists but to protect terrorists from Turkey," Erdogan noted.

A possible mission East of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria --- Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – which were both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and ISIL terrorists near Turkey’s borders.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK --- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU --- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.

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