Operation Dawn of Freedom
Part of the2024 Syrian opposition offensives,Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria (2024–2025), and theRojava conflict during theSyrian civil war
Advances before 8 December Advances after 8 December Map of the offensive in Syria   Controlled by theSyrian opposition   Controlled by theSyrian Democratic Forces
Date 30 November 2024 – 12 December 2024 (1 week and 5 days) Location Aleppo Governorate,Syria Result SNA victory[2] Temporary US-mediated truce between SDF and SNA[3] Territorial changes SNA captureTadef,[4]As-Safira,Tell Rifaat,[5]Manbij[6] and numerous other villages, as well as theKuweires airbase andMenagh airbase[7] SNA cut the territorial corridor between SDF-controlledTell Rifaat andManbij[8] SDF withdraws fromManbij[6] SDF launches theEast Aleppo offensive (2024–2025)
Belligerents
Syrian Interim Government Turkey (since 8 December)[1]	Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Syrian Arab Republic  (until 8 December) Russia
Units involved
Syrian National Army Dawn of Freedom Operations Room[9] Sultan Murad Division[10] Levant Front[11] Jaysh al-Islam[11] Maghawir al-Sham[12] Liberation and Construction Movement Ahrar al-Sharqiya[12] Joint Force[11] Sultan Suleiman Shah Hamza Division[11][13] Turkish Armed Forces Turkish Air Force	Syrian Democratic Forces[14] People's Protection Units[15] Manbij Military Council[16] Tabqa Military Council[17] Sireen Military Council[18] Asayish[6] Self-Defense Forces[19] Syrian Arab Armed Forces   Syrian Army   Russian Armed Forces  Russian Aerospace Forces  Russian Air Force[20]
Casualties and losses
34 killed[a] 222 killed[b] (SDF claim) 14 captured (SDF claim)[25] 42 vehicles destroyed (SDF claim)[25][24] 6 tanks destroyed (SDF claim)[24]	41 killed[c] 3 injured[19] 53 killed[28] 33 captured (Turkish claim)[29] 14Aero L-39 Albatros captured[28]
13 killed[30][31] 11 SDF/civilians executed by the SNA[32] Unknown number of civilians held captive[32] Several injured[30]

Operation Dawn of Freedom^[d] refers to a military offensive launched by theSyrian National Army (SNA; a Turkish-backed coalition of forces) against theSyrian Arab Armed Forces (SAAF) and theSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF), targeting the northernAleppo Governorate region betweenal-Bab andTadef within theOperation Euphrates Shield zone.

Following the initiation of the 2024Northwestern Syria offensive on 27 November and thecapture of several regions of the city ofAleppo, theSyrian National Army (SNA) commenced Operation Dawn of Freedom on 30 November. The operation was officially announced by the Prime Minister of theSyrian National CoalitionAbdurrahman Mustafa during anNTV interview. He outlined two primary strategic objectives: interceptingSDF supply networks and establishing a corridor connectingal-Bab, under theTurkish occupation of northern Syria, toTel Rifaat.^[33]

Operation Dawn of Freedom is unlikely to have occurred without approval from Turkey.^[34] It was linked to Turkish demands for a "Safe Zone" in Syria.^[35]

Following intense clashes between SNA forces and those loyal to the Assad government in northernAleppo Governorate, SNA forces captured the town ofTadef later the same day.^[4] Clashes broke out between SDF and SNA forces as SDF forces began to enter government-controlled towns in northern Aleppo, which government forces were retreating from due to theTahrir al-Sham-led offensive on Aleppo from Idlib.^[14] On 1 December 2024, SNA captured the towns ofas-Safirah,Khanasir and theKuweires airbase, while clashes occurred between SNA and SDF in the Sheikh Najjar district of Aleppo city.^[5] The capture of Kuweires airbase had cut the "corridor" that the SDF had established between theShahba Canton centred onTell Rifaat andManbij.^[8] Since the operation began, approximately 850km² of territory had been captured by the SNA.^{[36][better source needed]}

On the evening of 1 December 2024, the SNA launched an offensive on the SDF-held town of Tell Rifaat, capturing the town along with several surrounding villages, including Shwargha,Menagh, Maranaz,Kafr Naya,Kuweires Sharqi,Shaykh Issa,Deir Jamal, and Ain Daqna. The remaining SDF-controlled towns in the region were besieged and cut off from communication after being encircled by opposition forces.^[7] During its offensive, Turkey launched strikes on Rojava's territory in support of their offensive.^[34]

On 2 December 2024, the SDF announced plans to evacuateKurdish IDPs from Tel Rifaat and theShahba region to SDF-held areas in Aleppo'sSheikh Maqsood district and northeastern Syria.^[37][38]

On 4 December 2024, SDF reported clashes inDayr Hafir and in the southern Manbij region and confirmed casualties among the SNA.^[39]

On 6 December 2024, Dawn of Freedom operations roomannounced an offensive on the SDF-held cityManbij.^[9] On 8 December 2024,Turkey started supporting the SNA's offensive by conducting drone strikes on SDF positions.^[1] On 9 December 2024, SDF withdrew fromManbij.^[6] On 9 December 2024,Russia withdrew from their bases in Manbij andKobani which are part of thepeacekeeping agreement in 2019.^[40]

From 8 December 2024, clashes took place on the Qara Qozak Bridge of theM4 Motorway and theTishrin Dam, both criticalEuphrates crossings,^[41] with the SDF claiming to have killed dozens of SNA fighters.^[42]

On 12 December 2024, a truce mediated by theUnited States was announced,^[3] though it was ended days later.^[43] On 17 December 2024, the truce was extended by a week.^[44] The military attacks on Rojava continued in mid-December with theattacks on the Ayn al-Arab District.^[45]

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