The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) that they have initiated a counter-offensive against the Ankara-backed Syrian National Army to regain control of areas near Syria’s northern border with Turkey.
The SDF plays a crucial role as the United States’ ally in Syria, focusing on eliminating sleeper cells of the extremist Islamic State group dispersed throughout the country’s east.
Following the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s totalitarian regime, clashes have escalated between the U.S.-backed group and the SNA, leading to the capture of the strategic city of Manbij and its surrounding areas.
The intense conflict comes at a critical juncture for Syria, which is navigating its political future after decades under the Assad dynasty’s rule amidst prolonged warfare and economic hardship.
Ruken Jamal, spokesperson for the Women’s Protection Unit (YPJ) within the SDF, stated that their forces are advancing towards the center of Manbij in the ongoing counter-offensive, just over seven miles away.
She accused Ankara of attempting to undermine the group’s influence in negotiations regarding Syria’s political future through the SNA.
“Syria is entering a new phase, with discussions ongoing about the country’s future,” Ms. Jamal remarked. “Turkey is trying to divert our attention with battles and exclude us from negotiations in Damascus through its attacks.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, reported that dozens from both sides have lost their lives since the SNA’s offensive against the Kurds began in northern Syria earlier this month.
Ankara views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization, and has conducted military operations alongside Turkish-backed armed groups to establish a buffer zone devoid of SDF presence along the shared border.
Although the SNA participated in the insurgency that ousted Assad, it continues to target the SDF, considered a key player in Syria’s political landscape.
On Monday (December 23, 2024), SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami reported that their forces repelled Turkish-backed rebels near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, a vital source of hydroelectric power. He also mentioned the destruction of a rebel tank southeast of Manbij.
The war monitor revealed on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) that the Kurdish-led group had recaptured four villages near the strategic dam after overnight combat.
In recent days, Turkish airstrikes targeted the border town of Kobani.
Throughout Syria’s conflict, the Kurds have maintained an autonomous region in the northeast without aligning fully with either Assad’s regime or the rebel forces.
Despite the absence of the Assad family from power, Turkey’s stance remains unchanged, as evidenced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s meeting with HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, emphasizing Ankara’s strong position against the Kurdish-led group.
“The region has become a breeding ground for terror due to the presence of PKK members and leftist groups from Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Europe,” stated Mr. Fidan during a press conference after the meeting. “The international community overlooks this chaos due to the security it offers against IS.”
Amidst the ongoing conflict, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of IS due to the power vacuum and ongoing hostilities, hampering the group’s efforts to combat the extremist group’s sleeper cells.
A substantial number of women, children, and supporters of IS militants remain detained in large facilities under SDF control in northeastern Syria.
Published – December 24, 2024 11:05 pm IST
