As Syrian opposition forces continue their struggle against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a new front has opened in northern Syria, further complicating the already volatile situation. Over the weekend, Turkish forces, alongside the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), a militia composed of mercenaries and former criminal elements, launched a significant attack against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern Aleppo province. This aggressive move, confirmed by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and Kurdish sources, underscores the complex and often contradictory alliances shaping the Syrian conflict.
The escalating violence highlights the deep chasm between Turkey and the United States, despite their shared opposition to Assad. While the US considers the Kurds crucial allies in the fight against ISIS, viewing the SDF as a vital partner, Turkey views the Kurdish presence in northern Syria—and particularly the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist organization—as a significant threat to its national security. Turkey’s long-standing animosity towards the Kurds stems from the PKK’s insurgency within Turkey’s borders.
The attack on Manbij, a city in eastern Aleppo, saw the SNA launch a ground assault supported by Turkish warplanes and drones. The SDF reported at least 22 personnel killed and 40 injured. The SOHR also reported a Turkish suicide drone strike targeting a Kurdish military base. While the SNA claimed advances within Manbij, Kurdish local authorities and the SDF refuted these claims, stating that the attacks primarily focused on administrative buildings. The differing accounts highlight the fog of war and the difficulty in obtaining unbiased information from a conflict zone.
Devorah Margolin, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, provides insightful context. She explains that Turkey’s actions are part of a broader strategy to reshape Syria’s map according to its own interests, exploiting the chaos of the ongoing civil war and Assad’s weakened position. Turkey has a history of targeting Kurdish populations in northern Syria, aiming to create a buffer zone between Kurdish-controlled territories and its own border. This current offensive, Margolin argues, is a calculated move to weaken the SDF’s negotiating power and consolidate Turkish influence amidst the prevailing uncertainty.
This new offensive underscores the volatile geopolitical landscape of Syria. The conflict’s complex interplay of international actors, internal power struggles, and ethnic tensions make any prediction of its outcome highly uncertain. The Turkish actions represent a significant escalation and raise serious concerns about the future stability and humanitarian situation in northern Syria. The international community must closely monitor the situation and work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further violence and suffering.
