Syrian Kurdish forces kill 85 pro-Turkish Islamist militants in clashes

Syrian Kurdish forces kill 85 pro-Turkish Islamist militants in heavy clashes — Syrian Kurdish-led SDF forces targeting a vehicle of Turkish-backed Islamist militants, Manbij, northern Syrian, January 3, 2025. Photo: SDF Press

MINBIJ,— More than 100 fighters have been killed in fierce clashes over the past two days in northern Syria, according to a monitoring group. The violence has erupted between Turkish-backed Syrian Islamist militants and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), escalating tensions in the volatile region.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Sunday that 101 people were killed since fighting broke out Friday evening in villages near the city of Manbij. The dead include 85 members of pro-Turkey Islamist groups and 16 fighters from the Kurdish SDF.

In a statement, the SDF said it had successfully repelled “all attacks by Turkey’s mercenaries, supported by Turkish drones and airstrikes.” The Turkish Defense Ministry, however, claimed it had “neutralized” 32 Kurdish fighters in northern Syria but did not provide additional information.

The clashes come as Turkish-aligned factions resumed hostilities with the SDF. Turkey’s Syrian Islamist-led fighters also launched a parallel offensive on November 27, 2024, part of an ongoing effort to seize control of Kurdish-held territories.

Pro-Ankara jihadi groups have reportedly captured parts of Manbij and Tel Rifaat in northern Aleppo province, despite international attempts to broker a ceasefire.

Efforts by U.S. to establish a truce in the area have so far failed, and the violence shows no sign of abating. Casualty numbers continue to climb, raising concerns about the humanitarian impact.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking during a visit to Damascus on Friday, emphasized the importance of Kurdish security for achieving peace in Syria. “An end to the fighting in the north and the integration of Kurdish forces into Syria’s security framework is essential for long-term stability,” Baerbock said.

The SDF, backed by the United States, controls significant portions of the Kurdish region in northeastern Syria and parts of the eastern Deir Ezzor province.

Kurdish authorities have established a semi-autonomous administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) since government forces withdrew amid the civil war in 2011. The SDF also played a key role in defeating ISIS and securing territories once controlled by the extremist group.

Turkey accuses the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main faction within the SDF, of being an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union, and has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur).

Ankara frequently targets Kurdish positions in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) and Iraqi Kurdistan (Bashur), citing national security concerns.

Turkey denies the constitutional recognition of its Kurdish population, which numbers over 23 million. Ankara fears that the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region or state in Syrian Kurdistan could fuel separatist ambitions among its own Kurdish communities. As a result, Turkey is determined to crush the Syrian Kurdish forces to prevent the spread of separatism, analysts say.

Pro-Turkey Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, the former leader of al-Nusra Front, which was affiliated with al-Qaeda, is now the new leader of Syria and head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). He recently called for the integration of Kurdish-led forces into the national military. Speaking to Al Arabiya TV in late December, al-Sharaa stated that such measures could contribute to stabilizing the region.

HTS, which led the coalition of Islamists that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has taken a prominent role in shaping Syria’s future governance. However, the group’s Islamist ideology raises questions about the inclusivity of its proposed framework.

As fighting continues, the region remains mired in uncertainty, with diplomatic efforts yet to yield significant progress.

The Kurdish cause has also drawn attention from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reportedly held discussions recently with with Ilham Ahmed, a senior Kurdish official, about the escalating situation in northern Syria. According to Israeli media reports, Ahmed raised concerns about arbitrary arrests and executions of Kurdish civilians under new regional leadership.

Sa’ar has publicly voiced support for the Kurdish people, emphasizing their alignment with Western values and their critical role in combating ISIS. He has urged greater international support for the Kurds, while cautioning that rhetorical backing must be matched with concrete actions to deter further aggression by Turkey.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)