SDF warns of potential collapse of Tishrin Dam due to Turkish strikes
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) issued on Wednesday a warning about the potential collapse of the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River in the countryside of Manbij, northern Syria, citing continued targeting by Turkey and its affiliated armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
In an official statement, the SDF held Turkey accountable for any disaster resulting from ongoing aerial and artillery strikes on the dam and other Syrian regions.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, several areas in the Manbij countryside, including the strategically vital Tishrin Dam, have been subjected to repeated attacks by Turkey and SNA factions, raising concerns about a possible catastrophic failure of the dam.
The Turkish shelling of the Tishrin Dam and its surroundings reached its peak during the morning hours and continues unabated, the statement read.
The SDF also reported fierce clashes between the Manbij Military Council forces, a component of the SDF, and SNA factions in villages north of the Tishrin Dam and southeast of Manbij.
Additionally, Turkish drones targeted a civilian vehicle in the village of Kark in the Kobani countryside, while artillery fire struck the village of Aslanki, south of the city.
In response, the Manbij Military Council forces destroyed two vehicles equipped with Dushka heavy machine guns belonging to Turkish-backed SNA factions north of the dam, according to the SDF.
On Tuesday evening, the SDF announced the successful downing of a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone near the Tishrin Dam, further escalating tensions in the region.