12 Apr 2021 | 01:54 PM UTC
Syria: Car bombing in Afrin, April 12
Car bombing in Afrin, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, April 12. At least one person killed, three injured. Increased security is likely.
Event
Local reports indicate that a car bomb detonated at a checkpoint for the Syrian National Army in Afrin, Aleppo Governorate, April 12. At least one person has been killed and three others injured. There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack.
Afrin is located approximately 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Aleppo city. Heightened security is likely near the incident site through April 12. Associated ground travel disruptions are likely.
Context
Turkey has attributed similar attacks in the region to the Syrian People's Protection Units (YPG), including an April 28, 2020 truck bombing in a market in Afrin that killed over 50 people. Ankara views the YPG as a militant group linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) based in Turkey. Several car bombings have occurred in areas along the Turkish-Syrian border since Turkey launched a military offensive into northeastern Syria in October 2019. The Islamic State (IS) has also claimed responsibility for some attacks. Turkey's military presence in northern Syria will likely lead to further attacks in the future.
