| Manbij offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofOperation Dawn of Freedom, theTurkish–Syrian National Army offensive in Northern Syria (2024–2025) and theTurkish involvement in the Syrian civil war | |||||||
 Controlled by theSyrian Interim Government Controlled by theAutonomous Administration of North and East Syria | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Syrian Interim Government Turkey[1] |
| ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 60 killed[a] Dozens killed or injured (SDF claim)[14][7] 14 captured (SDF claim)[15] 3 vehicles destroyed (SDF claim)[15] |  112 killed[b] Tens of wounded fighters executed by SNA[18] 3 injured[9] | ||||||
| 37 civilians killed by SNA and Turkish Armed Forces[19] 3 civilians executed by SNA in revenge operations[20] Several civilians displaced[8] | |||||||
TheManbij offensive was a military campaign launched by the pro-TurkishSyrian National Army (SNA) and theTurkish Air Force againstSyrian Democratic Forces positions inManbij lasting from 6 to 11 December 2024. It was a part ofOperation Dawn of Freedom in theTurkish–Syrian National Army offensive in Northern Syria (2024–2025), and occurred concurrently with theDeir ez-Zor offensive and the widerSyrian opposition offensives. The SDF withdrew their troops on 12 December after five days of conflict following a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Following the capture ofTell Rifaat, the Turkish-backedSyrian 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 finalSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled territory west of theEuphrates River, where the group maintained its presence withU.S. military support. The opposition's military operations occurred as part ofOperation Dawn of Freedom simultaneously withOperation Deterrence of Aggression, which advanced fromIdlib towardHoms.[21]
The Dawn of Freedom operations room, a component of the SNA, articulated that while their primary objective remained the removal of theAssad 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.[21]
Turkish authorities reportedly rejectedRussian-mediated communication attempts with the SDF, maintaining their position that the group represented a Syrian extension of theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Prior to the offensive, Turkey had issued military ultimatums to the SDF demanding their withdrawal east of theEuphrates River, which the SDF declined to accept.[22]
On 4 December 2024, SDF reported clashes inDayr Hafir and in the southern Manbij region and confirmed casualties among the SNA.[23]
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 PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan had emphasized the operation's connection to national security concerns, specifically citing activities of Kurdish militant groups in Turkey and Syria.[22]
Beginning on 6 December 2024, the SNA initiated extensive and escalating military operations in the eastern countryside ofAleppo Governorate. The operations featured intensivedrone 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. TheManbij Military Council (MMC), operating under SDF command, reported reconnaissance aircraft alleged by the SDF to belong toTurkey 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 neighboringAl-Bab.[24][25]
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 inRaqqa Governorate. Despite circulation of footage showing SNA military buildups near Manbij, which the MMC claimed included Turkish mercenaries,[25] the SDF leadership dismissed these as dated material, characterizing them as components of aninformation warfare campaign.[24] 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.[22]
On 6 December, theSyrian Observatory on Human Rights (SOHR) reported that an SDF fighter was killed and others wounded in Turkish artillery shelling of Manbij.[26]
On 7 December, two SDF fighters were killed and others wounded in a Turkish kamikaze drone strike on position in Manbij City.[16] SNA claimed to have captured Jableh Al-Hamra[2] and Tal Aswad[27] but SDF claimed to have repelled any SNA attacks on multiple fronts.[6]
On 8 December, the Turkish state-runAnadolu Agency reported thatOrayma and Umm Dadat were captured by the SNA.[28] SOHR alleged thatTurkey 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.[29] The MMC denied any gains by the SNA.[14] SOHR reported that SNA gained control of other "large neighborhoods in the city" and a partial withdrawal of the MMC to the east of theEuphrates.[8] 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.[30]
On 9 December, the Turkish state-runAnadolu Agency claimed that the city was captured by the SNA.[31] The SDF denied this, stating it as "psychological warfare" and "propaganda".[32] 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.[10] It was also reported that after holding talks, the United States and Turkey reached an agreement which resulted in the SDF withdrawing from Manbij.[33]
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, saying that troops killed at least three Kurdish civilians, one of whom was a woman, andburnt andlooted several civilian homes while "humiliating" their residents.[34] SOHR said Turkish-backed factions also "extrajudicially executed tens of injured combatants" who were part of the Manbij Military Council Forces and were receiving medical treatment in northern Manbij city.[18]
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.[35]
TheTurkish offensive in northern Syria expanded, with the Turkish Armed Forces launching airstrikesin the vicinity of Kobani later that month.[36]
On 23 December 2024, the SDF's Manbij Military Council launchedan offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo to regain control of positions around theTishrin Dam and to gain further territory along theEuphrates River.[37][38]
