Turkish-Backed Syrian National Army Seizes Manbij from U.S. Allied, Kurdish-Led Forces

Peloni:  While the world celebrates Assad’s fall, Turkey steals a march in regards to its war against the Kurds

FDD | Dec 11, 2024

Latest Developments

• Turkish-Backed Forces Advance on SDF Territory: On November 30, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” targeting the Manbij region with two main goals: disrupting supply lines controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and creating a corridor between the cities of al-Bab and Tel Rifaat, which the SNA captured on December 1.

• Manbij is Key to Turkey’s Ambitions in Syria: Manbij, the last SDF-controlled area west of the Euphrates, is key to Turkey’s goal of pushing the SDF eastward beyond the river to thereby enable the Syrian National Army to advance toward the city of Kobane on the Turkish border.

• Turkish Air Force Conducted Airstrikes against SDF: Turkish warplanes carried out three airstrikes near the Qara Quzaq Bridge, a critical link between the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates. In a separate incident, a Turkish drone strike on a house in the SDF-controlled village of Al-Mustariha in northern Raqqa killed 11 civilians from the same family, including six children.

 FDD Expert Response

“Turkey’s opportunism is beginning to take center stage. While the world remains focused on the fall of the Assad regime, Turkish-backed SNA fighters, supported by Turkish Air Force jets and drones, are beginning to attack Kurdish strongholds. The mission is to eliminate the SDF and end U.S. support for our partners who have defended the world against ISIS. Erdogan frames this within the parameters of counterterrorism, but it’s a ploy to bolster his domestic standing with voters. Kurds will likely fight to the last person to protect Kobane and Qamishli, but it’s important to note that without a safe and agreed upon autonomous zone for Syria’s Kurds, a stable Syria is unlikely to materialize.” — Sinan Ciddi, Non-Resident Senior Fellow

“The attacks by the SNA once again show how Turkey is exploiting the situation in Syria to target the SDF. This is catastrophic for civilians because the SNA has a terrible track record of human rights abuses in the areas it controls. The United States should work to prevent more abuses by the SNA against civilians who have already suffered horribly during the campaign to help defeat ISIS. The fall of the Assad regime should not lead to a new conflict.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“The Syrian National Army framed its ‘Dawn of Freedom’ operation against the Kurdish-led SDF as part of a campaign to overthrow the Assad regime. However, it has become clear that the SNA functions primarily as an instrument of Turkish policy, advancing Ankara’s strategic goals. Their attacks on SDF-controlled areas should alarm Washington.” — Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

 “Are Kurds under threat amid civil war resurgence in Syria?” By Seth J. Frantzman

Erdogan Gets His ‘Leader of the Muslim World’ Moment,” by Steven A.Cook and Sinan Ciddi

America Must Stand with Syria’s Kurds,” by Sinan Ciddi

December 11, 2024 | 1 Comment »

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  1. Very troubling news indeed for the embattled Kurds. Erdogan seems to be obsessed with equating all Kurds with the PKK, despite the fact that there has been no PKK or terrorist activity inside Turkey for some time. It gives Erdogan a scapegoat he can blame, along with ‘western civilization’ for all his problems.

    Frankly I also feel empathy for the Turkish people who went from a proud, secular nation to a very rigid Islamic nation under Erdogan and they are having trouble getting rid of him, which most of them would like to do.

    Erdogan has made some enemies for himself, namely Iran and Russia.

    Meanwhile Islamic terrorists are now in charge in Syria and some are committing horrifying acts of murder and mutilation of corpses. I am concerned about the lives of the Christians in Syria.

    I can only hope that in the future the people of Syria will become free from terrorist dictators.