Latest Developments
• Turkish-Backed Forces Advance on SDF Territory: On November 30, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” targeting the Manbij region with two main goals: disrupting supply lines controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and creating a corridor between the cities of al-Bab and Tel Rifaat, which the SNA captured on December 1.
• Manbij is Key to Turkey’s Ambitions in Syria: Manbij, the last SDF-controlled area west of the Euphrates, is key to Turkey’s goal of pushing the SDF eastward beyond the river to thereby enable the Syrian National Army to advance toward the city of Kobane on the Turkish border.
• Turkish Air Force Conducted Airstrikes against SDF: Turkish warplanes carried out three airstrikes near the Qara Quzaq Bridge, a critical link between the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates. In a separate incident, a Turkish drone strike on a house in the SDF-controlled village of Al-Mustariha in northern Raqqa killed 11 civilians from the same family, including six children.
FDD Expert Response
“Turkey’s opportunism is beginning to take center stage. While the world remains focused on the fall of the Assad regime, Turkish-backed SNA fighters, supported by Turkish Air Force jets and drones, are beginning to attack Kurdish strongholds. The mission is to eliminate the SDF and end U.S. support for our partners who have defended the world against ISIS. Erdogan frames this within the parameters of counterterrorism, but it’s a ploy to bolster his domestic standing with voters. Kurds will likely fight to the last person to protect Kobane and Qamishli, but it’s important to note that without a safe and agreed upon autonomous zone for Syria’s Kurds, a stable Syria is unlikely to materialize.” — Sinan Ciddi, Non-Resident Senior Fellow
“The attacks by the SNA once again show how Turkey is exploiting the situation in Syria to target the SDF. This is catastrophic for civilians because the SNA has a terrible track record of human rights abuses in the areas it controls. The United States should work to prevent more abuses by the SNA against civilians who have already suffered horribly during the campaign to help defeat ISIS. The fall of the Assad regime should not lead to a new conflict.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
“The Syrian National Army framed its ‘Dawn of Freedom’ operation against the Kurdish-led SDF as part of a campaign to overthrow the Assad regime. However, it has become clear that the SNA functions primarily as an instrument of Turkish policy, advancing Ankara’s strategic goals. Their attacks on SDF-controlled areas should alarm Washington.” — Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Research Analyst
FDD Background and Analysis
“Are Kurds under threat amid civil war resurgence in Syria?” By Seth J. Frantzman
“Erdogan Gets His ‘Leader of the Muslim World’ Moment,” by Steven A.Cook and Sinan Ciddi
“America Must Stand with Syria’s Kurds,” by Sinan Ciddi