Syria: Kurdish Forces Counter Turkish-Backed Offensive
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Tensions are escalating in northern Syria as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a counteroffensive against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). This renewed conflict comes as Syria navigates a complex political transition following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The SDF, a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, has been engaged in intense clashes with the SNA for weeks. The SNA recently seized control of the strategically crucial city of Manbij and surrounding areas.This latest counteroffensive marks a notable escalation in the ongoing struggle for control of Syria’s northern border region.
Ruken Jamal, spokesperson for the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), a component of the SDF, stated that SDF fighters are within seven miles of Manbij’s city center. She accused Turkey of using the SNA to undermine the SDF’s influence in the ongoing Syrian political negotiations. “Syria is now in a new phase,and discussions are underway about the future of the country,” Jamal said. “Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, dozens of casualties have been reported on both sides since the SNA’s offensive began earlier this month. The intensity of the fighting underscores the volatile situation in Syria, a nation grappling with over a decade of war and severe economic hardship.
The U.S. is closely monitoring the situation. U.S.defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, on Tuesday. Pentagon press secretary maj.Gen. Pat Ryder reported that the two officials discussed the Syrian conflict, with Secretary Austin emphasizing the need for close coordination to counter ISIS and create a more stable Syria.
Turkey views the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK),a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey. For years, Turkey has conducted air strikes and supported ground offensives against the SDF in northern Syria, aiming to establish a buffer zone along their shared border. The SNA’s actions against the SDF, a key player in Syria’s future, further complicate the already precarious political landscape.
The SDF reported repelling Turkish-backed rebels from areas near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River on Monday, highlighting the dynamic and fluid nature of the ongoing conflict. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation and significant humanitarian consequences.
Syria Conflict Heats Up: Fighting Near strategic Dam Raises Concerns
Intense clashes are erupting in northern Syria, raising serious concerns about regional stability and the potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS). Kurdish-led forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), are engaged in heavy fighting with rebels near a critical hydroelectric dam, a key source of power for the region. The escalating conflict has also prompted worries about the safety of tens of thousands of ISIS-affiliated individuals held in SDF-controlled detention camps.
According to reports, the SDF has recently retaken several villages in the vicinity of the strategic dam following overnight battles. “The SDF also destroyed a tank belonging to the rebels southeast of Manbij,” a senior SDF commander stated. This renewed offensive comes amidst ongoing Turkish airstrikes targeting the border town of Kobani.
The Kurds have maintained a degree of autonomous rule in northeastern Syria since the start of the conflict, navigating a complex relationship with both the Assad regime and the various rebel groups. Though, Turkey’s stance remains firm, as evidenced by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent visit to syria.During a press conference following a meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful rebel group, Fidan declared, “It has turned the region into a cauldron of terror with PKK members and far-left groups who have come from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Europe. The international community is turning a blind eye to this lawlessness because of the wardenship it provides (against IS).”
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi has voiced serious apprehension about a potential ISIS resurgence, fueled by the ongoing conflict and the resulting power vacuum. He expressed concern that the SDF’s resources are stretched thin, hindering their ability to effectively counter ISIS sleeper cells. “The ongoing fighting has left the Kurdish-led group unable to carry out its attacks and raids on the extremists’ scattered sleeper cells,” a source close to the SDF confirmed.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of thousands of children, family members, and supporters of ISIS militants held in large detention camps in northeastern syria, all under the control of the SDF. The ongoing conflict raises significant concerns about the security of these individuals and the potential for instability in the region.
The escalating violence in Syria underscores the fragility of the peace and the ongoing challenges in stabilizing the region. The international community faces a critical juncture, needing to address not only the immediate conflict but also the long-term implications for regional security and the threat of ISIS resurgence.
Kurdish Forces & Turkey Clash at Key Syrian Dam, Experts fear ISIS Resurgence
Tensions are soaring in Northern Syria as the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) clash with Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) rebels near a strategic hydroelectric dam. This renewed conflict threatens regional stability and raises meaningful concerns about the potential resurgence of ISIS.
The fierce fighting, fueled by geopolitical tensions and conflicting interests, has raised alarm bells internationally, prompting calls for a diplomatic solution before the situation spirates further.
Strategic Importance & Growing Humanitarian Concerns:
World Today News’ Senior Editor, Cristina Rubio, spoke with Dr. Zara Khan, a leading Syria expert at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, to delve into the complex conflict unfolding in northern Syria.
Rubio: Dr. Khan,the fighting near the Tishrin Dam is especially concerning. Can you explain it’s strategic significance?
Dr. Khan: This is a vital dam for the region, providing electricity to both Syria and Turkey.Control of the dam translates into political and economic leverage. The fighting for control not only disrupts essential services but also signals a larger shift in power dynamics in the region.
Rubio: What are the immediate humanitarian consequences of this escalating conflict?
Dr. Khan: We’re seeing mass casualties, civilian displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The region was already struggling with interna
Syria: Kurdish Forces Counter Turkish-Backed Offensive
Tensions are escalating in northern Syria as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a counteroffensive against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). This renewed conflict comes as Syria navigates a complex political transition following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The SDF, a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, has been engaged in intense clashes with the SNA for weeks. The SNA recently seized control of the strategically crucial city of Manbij and surrounding areas.This latest counteroffensive marks a notable escalation in the ongoing struggle for control of Syria’s northern border region.
Ruken Jamal, spokesperson for the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), a component of the SDF, stated that SDF fighters are within seven miles of Manbij’s city center. She accused Turkey of using the SNA to undermine the SDF’s influence in the ongoing Syrian political negotiations. “Syria is now in a new phase,and discussions are underway about the future of the country,” Jamal said. “Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, dozens of casualties have been reported on both sides since the SNA’s offensive began earlier this month.The intensity of the fighting underscores the volatile situation in Syria, a nation grappling with over a decade of war and severe economic hardship.
The U.S. is closely monitoring the situation. U.S.defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, on Tuesday. Pentagon press secretary maj.Gen. Pat Ryder reported that the two officials discussed the Syrian conflict, with Secretary Austin emphasizing the need for close coordination to counter ISIS and create a more stable Syria.
Turkey views the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK),a group designated as a terrorist association by Turkey. For years, Turkey has conducted air strikes and supported ground offensives against the SDF in northern Syria, aiming to establish a buffer zone along their shared border. The SNA’s actions against the SDF, a key player in Syria’s future, further complicate the already precarious political landscape.
The SDF reported repelling Turkish-backed rebels from areas near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River on Monday, highlighting the dynamic and fluid nature of the ongoing conflict. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation and significant humanitarian consequences.
Syria Conflict Heats Up: Fighting Near strategic Dam Raises Concerns
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