The Epicenter of Conflict in northeast Syria

Turkey’s Syrian National Army (SNA) launched Operation Dawn of Freedom on November 30, 2024, targeting the last SDF-controlled areas west of the Euphrates River in northeast Syria. The offensive aimed to expand Turkish-controlled territory, prevent Kurdish autonomy, and establish a 30-kilometer buffer zone from al-Bab to Tel-Rifaat. Turkish drones and warplanes destroyed power stations, refineries, and telecommunications near the Tishrin Dam, displacing over 200,000 Kurds from al-Shahbaa and Aleppo governorate. The SDF, which includes the YPG, has faced repeated Turkish military campaigns since 2016, with Ankara classifying the group as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK. The latest offensive isolated SDF-held towns like Manbij and Kobani, cutting off water and electricity. Civilians in SNA-occupied areas reported robbery, extortion, and extrajudicial executions of injured combatants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The conflict has deep historical roots, including the 1925 defeat of Sheik Said’s Kurdish resistance movement by Turkish forces. Since 2012, Kurds in Rojava have governed an autonomous region, facing threats from IS and Turkish-backed forces. The Islamic State (IS) seized Kobani in 2014 but was repelled by SDF fighters with US-led coalition support, though atrocities like beheadings and sexual violence occurred during the siege. Turkey and the SDF exchange accusations of war crimes, with Ankara claiming the SDF uses civilians as human shields. The SNA’s advance has created a humanitarian crisis, forcing around 100,000 Kurds to flee Aleppo governorate. The offensive continues as of December 6, 2024, with the SNA targeting Manbij, the last SDF stronghold west of the Euphrates. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) documented widespread displacements and destruction, including airstrikes on SDF positions in Aleppo, Al-Hasakah, and Mambij. The conflict underscores regional tensions, with Turkey seeking to weaken Kurdish influence in post-Assad Syria while the SDF defends its autonomy.