Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus

Damascus, Dec 17: Clashes have intensified near the Euphrates River after the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused armed factions linked to the Syrian government of carrying out attacks in northern Syria.

According to North Press, operating in eastern Syria, the SDF on Tuesday said that two of its fighters were injured in an explosion caused by a suicide drone in the countryside of Aleppo. The incident occurred while the fighters were on what the SDF described as a humanitarian mission to assist wounded civilians.

In a statement, the SDF said, “Two of our fighters were injured with varying degrees of wounds this afternoon as a result of the explosion of a suicide drone belonging to factions affiliated with the Damascus government.” It alleged that the drone directly targeted its personnel as they were evacuating and providing medical assistance to civilians wounded by shelling carried out by the same factions on villages and populated areas near Deir Hafir in eastern Aleppo province.

Calling the incident a serious escalation, the SDF said that targeting medical evacuation teams and aid points constitutes a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms”. It held the Damascus government fully responsible for the escalation and any resulting threats to civilian lives and regional security.

“Our forces will continue to fulfill their duty to protect civilians and provide humanitarian assistance despite deliberate attempts to target them,” the SDF said, while reserving the right to take “all necessary measures” to defend its forces and areas under its control.

The latest incident is part of a series of clashes that have occurred over the past year between SDF fighters and groups backed by the new government in Damascus. In March 2024, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi travelled to Damascus with coordination from US Central Command and agreed in principle to integrate the SDF into new Syrian security forces, but progress on the deal has since stalled.

The clashes have reportedly been ongoing since December 15. At the time, the SDF accused factions affiliated with the Damascus government of shelling the villages of Haj Hussein and Sheikh Mahshi, as well as the Syriatel Hill near the strategically important Tishreen Dam, using artillery and heavy weapons.

Tishreen Dam, located about 90 kilometres east of Aleppo, is a key site on the Euphrates River. SDF forces control the eastern side of the river and have frequently been targeted by groups linked either to Damascus or to Turkish-backed proxies.

The volatile security situation has made it difficult to clearly identify the perpetrators behind the attacks. Turkey has long accused the SDF of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Ankara designates as a terrorist organisation, and has called for the SDF to disband and integrate with Syrian government forces. However, recent efforts by Ankara to pursue peace initiatives with the PKK have slightly eased tensions in recent months.

The attacks on the SDF come amid growing instability in Syria, following the killing of two US soldiers and an interpreter near Palmyra earlier this month, and a reported uptick in ISIS-related threats across the country.