——– Turkiye and the US have carried out strikes against terrorist targets on Syrian soil
DM Monitoring
Damascus: Despite the end of the Assad family’s five-decade rule in Syria, violence persists as US and Turkish forces continue targeting terrorists.
Over the weekend, Turkish forces attacked US-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria,
On Saturday, fighting erupted in Manbij, a Kurdish-controlled city near the Turkish border, between two rebel groups: one supported by the US and the other by Turkey.
Kurdish sources reported at least 22 fatalities and 40 injuries among the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which is the Syrian branch of the PKK/YPG terror group.
The clashes came ahead of a Sunday call between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler.
Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces launched an assault on Manbij, supported by Turkish airstrikes and kamikaze drones that struck a Kurdish base.
The SNA now controls 80% of the northern Manbij district.
Despite promises from both the US and Russia to remove the PKK/YPG from the region, the group has remained entrenched in Manbij since 2016, defying multiple agreements made with Turkey.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU, and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, have used the power vacuum created by the weakening Assad regime to establish control along the Turkish border. In response, Turkey has deployed troops and collaborated with local groups like the SNA to prevent further PKK/YPG expansion.
President Joe Biden has also highlighted Syria’s period of uncertainty and risk, noting that for the first time in years, neither Russia, Iran, nor Hezbollah has a dominant role in the country. “For years, the main backers of Assad were Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia,” Biden said. “But all three have become weaker, leading to their support collapsing.”
Biden also confirmed that US forces conducted precision strikes against Daesh camps and operatives in Syria. He described this period as a historic opportunity for the Syrian people to build a better future but also stressed the risks involved. “The United States will work with our partners to manage the risk and seize the opportunity for a better Syria,” he added.
Meanwhile, opposition groups in Syria have made notable territorial gains. By December 8, they had advanced into the southern suburbs of Damascus, forcing the Assad regime to retreat from key areas, including the Defense Ministry and the international airport. This rapid loss of control by the regime led to the fall of Damascus.
