Syria: Despite fragile ceasefire extension, 21 pro-Turkey fighters killed

Fighting erupted near a flashpoint town in northern Syria on Wednesday (December 18), killing 21 Turkish-backed fighters, despite a US-brokered extension of a fragile ceasefire in the area, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group with a network of sources inside Syria, reported that members of the pro-Turkey factions attacked a Kurdish-held position near the Tishreen Dam, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the town of Manbij.

The Manbij Military Council, affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), repelled the assault, the Observatory said.

“At least 21 members of pro-Turkey factions were killed and others wounded by fire from the Manbij Military Council after pro-Turkey factions attacked” in the clashes. The Britain-based Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria, said Wednesday’s attack included “support from Turkish reconnaissance aircraft” and was followed by “heavy clashes with heavy and medium weapons”.

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The SDF confirmed in a statement that its forces “successfully repelled” the attack. It added that after halting the offensive, the Manbij Military Council conducted a “combing operation” in the area surrounding the Tishreen Dam.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday that the Manbij truce, which had recently expired, had been “extended through the end of the week”.

The Turkey-Kurdistan conflict in Syria

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 has complicated the dynamics around Syria region.

The power vacuum has led to increased activity by various factions, including Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish-led groups, each vying for control and influence. Despite US-brokered ceasefires, clashes have persisted, particularly around strategic locations.

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North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) allies Washington and Ankara supported Syrian rebels during Syria’s 13-year civil war, but their interests clashed when it came to the SDF faction.

With inputs from agencies