Following a US-brokered agreement, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will withdraw from Manbij.
A ceasefire has been declared in Manbij, following days of conflict between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), according to top SDF commander Mazloum Abdi.
“A ceasefire agreement has been reached in Manbij, facilitated by the US, to ensure civilian safety and security,” Abdi announced on X early Wednesday. He confirmed that SDF fighters “will withdraw from the area as soon as possible.”
“Our aim is a Syria-wide ceasefire and the commencement of a political process to determine the country’s future,” Abdi stated.
The SDF reported that the SNA launched attacks on Manbij, northeast of Aleppo, beginning November 27, advancing toward Kobani, a Kurdish stronghold near the Turkish border. This assault coincided with a broader offensive by Syrian opposition groups, culminating in the weekend’s capture of Damascus and the removal of President Bashar Assad.
Turkish media reported that the SNA conducted operations targeting Kurdish militias affiliated with the SDF, groups considered terrorist organizations by Türkiye.
Syria has remained fractured since the 2011 rebellion against Assad escalated into a full-scale civil war.
The fragile balance established by the 2020 truce was significantly disrupted earlier this month when Islamist-dominated opposition forces, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a rapid offensive capturing several major cities, including Damascus and Aleppo. The SDF initiated its own offensive in the east, attempting to exploit the Syrian government army’s collapse.