At least 15 Turkish-backed Syrian fighters were killed on Sunday in violent clashes with Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory reported that fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) infiltrated positions held by Turkish-backed groups in the Aleppo countryside.
The incident occurred near the city of Al-Bab, where local authorities announced the suspension of schools on Monday due to escalating violence.
The SDF, a US-backed coalition primarily composed of Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), led the fight against Daesh in Syria and played a pivotal role in the group’s territorial defeat in 2019. However, Ankara considers the YPG to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey blames for various attacks, including one in Ankara.
Turkish forces, along with allied Syrian rebel groups, have carried out multiple cross-border operations since 2016, establishing control over significant areas of northern Syria. These offensives, many targeting the SDF, have contributed to ongoing tensions and sporadic clashes in the region.