Syrian Democratic Forces Kill 17 Pro-Turkey Fighters in Aleppo’s Manbij Countryside
By Kardo Roj
In a significant escalation in northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced a successful large-scale operation on Tuesday that targeted Turkish-backed militias near Manbij, Aleppo. The SDF reported that 17 members of these factions were killed and several others were wounded in the offensive, which unfolded in the village of Buhej al-Ajmi, located west of Manbij.
According to a statement released by the SDF on its official website, the operation was led by the Manbij Military Council, an SDF-affiliated group responsible for security in the region. The statement detailed that the mission included a series of ambushes, sniping actions, and a raid on fortified positions of Turkish-aligned factions in the area, aimed at dismantling their infrastructure and disrupting their operations.
The SDF, primarily composed of Kurdish forces, has received significant U.S. support in its fight against ISIS, though its relationship with Turkey has been fraught due to Ankara’s strong opposition to any Kurdish autonomy along its border. Turkish-backed militias have held territory in northern Syria since 2016, following successive military operations launched by Turkey to curtail SDF expansion and to push back ISIS elements. This incident underscores ongoing tensions in the region, which has remained a contentious battlefield among Syrian government forces, the SDF, Turkey-backed factions, and other actors, despite ISIS’s territorial defeat in 2019.
Details of the Operation
The SDF statement claimed the operation was a “full success,” highlighting that its fighters managed to infiltrate deep into the targeted positions without suffering any casualties themselves. After reaching the vicinity of the Turkish-aligned positions, SDF forces reportedly set up ambushes and sniper posts, effectively neutralizing hostile forces in a carefully orchestrated series of engagements. As a result, they were able to secure two military vehicles, three fortified positions, and nine firearms, including rocket launchers, ammunition, and other military equipment.
Among those killed were reportedly several high-ranking members of the factions, though no specific identities or group affiliations were provided. The operation’s success, according to the SDF statement, was also due to “thorough pre-operation reconnaissance,” which allowed for precise targeting of the faction’s strongholds.
The SDF’s statement concluded that following the completion of the operation, all participating fighters safely returned to their positions without sustaining any casualties, describing the outcome as a “strategic gain” for the Manbij Military Council and the SDF more broadly in their efforts to secure the region.
Strategic Implications
The incident underscores the enduring instability in northern Syria, where complex alliances and hostilities between Turkish-backed factions, the SDF, Syrian government forces, and other actors make the situation volatile. The SDF’s success in this operation may deter further assaults from Turkey-aligned factions but could potentially provoke a response from Turkey itself, raising the possibility of renewed escalations.
This development highlights the precarious balance of power in the region, where any significant military action can have wide-reaching implications for both local dynamics and the broader international community’s approach to the Syrian conflict.