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15 Turkish-Backed Fighters Killed in Clashes with SDF in Syria
At least 15 fighters allied with Turkey were killed Sunday in clashes with Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence erupted after fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) infiltrated Turkish-backed positions in the Aleppo countryside, near the city of al-Bab.
The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, reported that the SDF launched a surprise attack, leading to intense fighting. Schools in al-Bab have been ordered to close on Monday due to the escalating violence, according to local authorities.
The SDF, supported by the United States, played a key role in defeating the Islamic State group in Syria. However, it is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey views as a branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group responsible for attacks within Turkey.
Turkey and its allied Syrian factions control parts of northern Syria after launching multiple cross-border operations since 2016, many of them targeting the SDF. These offensives are part of Ankara’s efforts to counter the YPG and establish influence in the region.