Manbij offensive (2024)

2024 Manbij offensive
Part of Operation Dawn of Freedom and Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war
Controlled by the Syrian Interim Government   Controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
Date 6–11 December 2024 (5 days) Location Manbij District in Aleppo Governorate, Syria Result Turkish–SNA victory SNA captured Manbij Fighting continues in Manbij
Belligerents
Syrian Interim Government  Turkey[1]	Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Manbij Region
Units involved
Syrian National Army Dawn of Freedom Operations Room[2] Sultan Murad Division[3] Turkish Armed Forces Turkish Air Force	Syrian Democratic Forces Manbij Military Council[4] Tabqa Military Council[4] Sireen Military Council[5] Asayish[6] Self-Defense Forces[7] Anti-Terror Units^[citation needed]
Casualties and losses
60 killed[a] Dozens killed or injured (SDF claim)[12][5] 14 captured (SDF claim)[13] 3 vehicles destroyed (SDF claim)[13] 2 tanks captured^[citation needed]	112+ killed[b] Tens of wounded fighters executed by SNA[16] 3 injured[7]
11[17]–12 civilians killed by Turkish airstrike^[citation needed] 3 civilians executed by SNA[18] Several civilians displaced[6]

The Manbij offensive (2024) was a military campaign launched by the pro-Turkish Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Turkish Air Force against Syrian Democratic Forces positions in Manbij lasting from 6 to 11 December 2024. It was a part of Operation Dawn of Freedom, and occurred concurrently with the Deir ez-Zor offensive and the wider Syrian opposition offensives. The SDF withdrew their troops on 11 December after five days of conflict following a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.^[19]

Background

Following the capture of Tell Rifaat, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) announced a military campaign targeting Manbij, a strategic city in the eastern Aleppo countryside. This offensive held particular significance as Manbij represented the final Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled territory west of the Euphrates River, where the group maintained its presence with U.S. military support. The opposition's military operations occurred as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom simultaneously with Operation Deterrence of Aggression, which advanced from Idlib toward Homs.^[20]

The Dawn of Freedom operations room, a component of the SNA, articulated that while their primary objective remained the removal of the Assad government, they were compelled to engage the SDF due to what they characterized as attacks on opposition-held villages in the Aleppo countryside. The operations room issued civilian safety advisories for Manbij residents, requesting they maintain distance from military installations.^[20]

Turkish authorities reportedly rejected Russian-mediated communication attempts with the SDF, maintaining their position that the group represented a Syrian extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Prior to the offensive, Turkey had issued military ultimatums to the SDF demanding their withdrawal east of the Euphrates River, which the SDF declined to accept.^[21]

On 4 December 2024, SDF reported clashes in Dayr Hafir and in the southern Manbij region and confirmed casualties among the SNA.^[22]

Military analysts stated that the offensive aligned with Turkish initiatives to establish a security corridor along Syria's northern border. This strategic plan aimed to create a 30-kilometer deep buffer zone in territories controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had emphasized the operation's connection to national security concerns, specifically citing activities of Kurdish militant groups in Turkey and Syria.^[21]

Offensive

Beginning on 6 December 2024, the SNA initiated extensive and escalating military operations in the eastern countryside of Aleppo Governorate. The operations featured intensive drone surveillance and artillery strikes targeting multiple villages located to the northwestern countryside of Manbij under SDF control, including Aoun al-Dadat, al-Daraj, Umm Jaloud, Sayada, and Umm Adas. The Manbij Military Council (MMC), operating under SDF command, reported reconnaissance aircraft alleged by the SDF to belong to Turkey conducted repeated bombing missions. The council also reported that Turkish drone operations occurred approximately twenty times along the Turkish-SDF border region on three different fronts, including towards Manbij and neighboring Al-Bab.^[23][24]

According to Council leader Sherfan Darwish, SDF forces successfully repelled infiltration attempts along the front line. According to the MMC, the SDF maintained control over Manbij city and its surrounding countryside, the town of Al-Arima near Al-Bab, and Tabqa in Raqqa Governorate. Despite circulation of footage showing SNA military buildups near Manbij, which the MMC claimed included Turkish mercenaries,^[24] the SDF leadership dismissed these as dated material, characterizing them as components of an information warfare campaign.^[23] The administration issued statements declaring their readiness to resist the offensive, characterizing the Turkish-backed operations as a threat to regional stability and inter-communal relations.^[21]

On 6 December, an SDF fighter was killed and others wounded in Turkish artillery shelling of Manbij.^[25]

On 7 December, two SDF fighters were killed and others wounded in a Turkish kamikaze drone strike on position in Manbij City.^[14] SNA claimed to have captured Jableh Al-Hamra^[2] and Tal Aswad^[26] but SDF claimed to have repelled any SNA attacks on multiple fronts.^[4]

On 8 December, the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Orayma and Umm Dadat were captured by the SNA.^[27] Turkey started supporting the SNA's offensive by conducting drone strikes on SDF positions.^[1] Turkish reports claim that 80% of Manbij were captured by the SNA.^[28] The MMC denied any gains by the SNA.^[12] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that SNA gained control other "large neighborhoods in the city" and a partial withdrawal of the MMC to the east of the Euphrates.^[6] After Turkish claims that large parts of the region had been captured, the Manbij administration released a video outside the government building in central Manbij, stating that Turkish backed forces failed to breach the city and the SDF was committed to holding Manbij.^[29]

On 9 December, the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency claimed that the city was captured by the SNA.^[30] The SDF denied this, stating it as "psychological warfare" and "propaganda".^[31] The SOHR stated that SNA had captured most of the city, claiming withdrawal of the Manbij Military Council, except for positions in the rear of Manbij.^[8] It was also reported that after holding talks, the United States and Turkey reached an agreement which resulted in the SDF withdrawing from Manbij.^[32]

On 10 December, the SOHR reported that pro-Turkish factions began "revenge operations" against civilians living along Al-Jazeera Road and in the neighborhoods of Al-Asadiya and Nawajah. Troops killed at least three Kurdish civilians, one of which was a woman, and burnt and looted several civilian homes while "humiliating" their residents.^[33]

On 11 December, Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the SDF, announced that SDF soldiers "will be withdrawn from the area as soon as possible" following a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.^[19]

Aftermath

The Turkish Armed Forces started to launch airstrikes in the vicinity of Kobani later that month.^[34]

Main article: East Aleppo offensive (2024)

On 23 December, the SDF launched an offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo to regain control of positions around the Tishrin Dam and to gain further territory along the Euphrates River.^[35]

Notes

1. 24 killed on 8 December,^[8][9] 6 killed on 9 December,^[10] 30 killed on 10 December^[11]
2. Three killed on 7 December,^[7][14] 35 killed on 8-9 December,^[8][9][10] 68 killed on 10 December,^[11] six killed on 11 December^[15]

References

1. "With the support of Turkish drones, the factions of the "Fajr al-Hurriya" operations room attack several axes in the Manbij countryside" (in Arabic). SOHR. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
2. Halab Today TV [@HalabTodayTV] (7 December 2024). "عاجل" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 December 2024 – via Twitter.
3. "Türkmanlar Menbiç əməliyyatına başladı – VİDEO". Turkustan.az (in Turkish). 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
4. "SDF: We repel occupation state's attacks on 3 fronts". Hawar News Agency. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
5. "Sireen Military Council forces blow up 5 vehicles of Turkish occupation mercenaries". Hawar News Agency. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
6. "More than 25 members kil*led in Manbij | Factions of "Dawn of Freedom" Operation Room take control over major neighbourhoods in the city". SOHR. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
7. "Military escalation | member of "National Defence" killed and others injured under Turkish shelling on Manbij". SOHR. 7 December 2024.
8. "Following fierce clashes | Turkish-backed factions take control of Manbij and 50 militiamen and members of "Manbij Military Council Forces" killed". SOHR. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
9. "Daily death toll | 29 people killed on December 8 across Syria". SOHR. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
10. "Daily death toll | 80 people killed on December 9 across Syria". SOHR. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
11. "Daily death toll | 198 people killed on December 10 across Syria". SOHR. 10 December 2024.
12. "Dozens of mercenaries killed or wounded as Manbij Military Council responds to attacks". 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
13. "14 mercenaries of Turkish occupation arrested in Manbij". Hawar News Agency. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
14. "New attack | Kamikaze drone kills two members of "Manbij Military Council Forces"". SOHR. 7 December 2024.
15. "New attack | Turkish drone kills and injure ten members of "Manbij Military Council Forces" in west Euphrates region - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 11 December 2024.
16. "Having been besieged by faction | Injured combatants of "Manbij Military Council Forces" extrajudicially executed in eastern Aleppo". SOHR. 10 December 2024.
17. Presse, AFP-Agence France. "War Monitor Says Turkish Drone Strike Kills 11 Civilians In North Syria". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
18. "Daily death toll | 198 people killed on December 10 across Syria - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". 10 December 2024.
19. "Kurdish-led Force Announces US-brokered Truce In Syria's Manbij". Barron's. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
20. "المعارضة السورية تبدأ عملية عسكرية ضد "قسد" في منبج بريف حلب الشرقي". عربي21 (in Arabic). 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
21. الشرق (7 December 2024). "فصائل تضغط على "قسد" في منبج.. فوضى بدير الزور وترقب في الحسكة". Asharq News (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 December 2024.
22. Kardo Roj (4 December 2024). "SDF Reports Casualties Among Turkey-Backed Militants in Northern Syria". North Press Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
23. Sheikho, Kamal (6 November 2024). "«سوريا الديمقراطية» تتهم تركيا بشن هجمات واسعة بريف حلب الشرقي". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
24. "بيان صادر عن قوات سوريا الديمقراطية قسد يكشف : الاحتلال التركي ومرتزقته يصعّد من هجماته في محيط منبج وقراها لليوم الثاني على التوالي". متابعات (in Arabic). 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
25. "Military escalation | member of "National Defence" killed and others injured under Turkish shelling on Manbij". SOHR. 6 December 2024.
26. Al Jazeera Arabic Syria [@AJA_Syria] (7 December 2024). "ضمن عملية فجر الحرية.. فصائل المعارضة السورية تسيطر على قرية تل أسود شرقي #حلب بعد اشتباكات مع "قوات سوريا الديمقراطية"" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 December 2024 – via Twitter.
27. Anadolu English [@anadoluagency] (8 December 2024). "#BREAKING In operation Dawn of Freedom, opposition Syrian National Army liberates town of Urayma, village of Umm Dadat in Manbij from terrorist PKK/YPG occupation" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 December 2024 – via Twitter.
28. "Syrian rebels enter northern city of Manbij, Turkish source says". Reuters. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
29. Nazım Daştan (8 December 2024). "Manbij administration: Don't believe Turkish propaganda lies". Firat News Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
30. Anadolu Staff (9 December 2024). "Opposition Syrian National Army liberates Manbij from US-backed PKK/YPG terrorist group". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
31. "Consejo Militar de Manbij: «Protegeremos nuestra ciudad»". Firat News Agency (in Spanish). 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
32. Ece Toksabay; Jonathan Spicer (9 December 2024). "Rebels take Syrian city from U.S.-backed group after U.S.-Turkey deal, source says". Reuters.
33. السوري, المرصد (9 December 2024). "عمليات تصفية على الهوية في منبج.. الفصائل الموالية لتركيا تعفش ممتلكات الكرد وتهين أبناء الأحياء الكردية | المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان" (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
34. New attack – Turkish drone attacks military position in Tal Mishtanour in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) countryside, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 10 December 2024, Wikidata Q131460344
35. "SDF launches counterattack at Tishreen Dam". Rudaw. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.