At least 24 fighters were killed in fierce clashes between Turkish-backed factions and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern Manbij region, according to a war monitor on Thursday. The fatalities included 23 fighters from the Turkish-backed groups and one member of the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council.
The violence erupted after Ankara-backed fighters launched attacks on two towns south of Manbij, triggering intense fighting in the area. The SDF, supported by US forces, has been a key player in the battle against ISIS, but Turkey considers the SDF’s main group, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as terrorist by both Ankara and Washington.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkish forces bombarded the region with drones and artillery, while clashes continued to intensify around the Arab-majority city of Manbij. The SDF claimed it successfully repelled the attacks, killing dozens of opposition fighters and destroying several Turkish-backed armored vehicles, including a tank.
Turkey has launched multiple military operations against the SDF since 2016, and Ankara-backed forces have recently captured several Kurdish-held towns. The fighting has escalated in the region following the December 8 overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).