The Syrian National Army (SNA), associated with Turkey and formerly known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has intensified its military operations against Kurdish forces in Aleppo province, coinciding with the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) allegedly taking control of Aleppo. While HTS, an al-Qaeda affiliate that has greatly influenced the Syrian Civil War since its beginning in 2011, conducts its onslaught, SNA’s actions against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—comprising various militias led by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG/YPJ)—seem to unfold independently. This scenario emerges amid a backdrop of a stagnant civil war, exacerbated by the international power plays and shifting allegiances in a divided Syria.
For almost a decade, the Syrian Civil War saw limited advancements until the recent escalation initiated by HTS. The collapse of the Islamic State’s reign in Raqqa and continued control of Aleppo by the Assad regime had previously set a tense but stable front in the conflict. Kurdish forces maintained relative autonomy in northeast Syria, known as Rojava, facing little interference from Damascus. Conversely, Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has targeted the Kurdish groups in Syria on multiple occasions, labeling the YPG/YPJ as indistinguishable from the PKK—a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Erdogan’s statements earlier in the year hinted at further intervention, setting the stage for renewed hostilities.
With the recent onset of “Operation Dawn of Freedom,” the SNA claims to have successfully captured 23 villages from Kurdish control, focusing their actions around Tel Rifaat, a strategically significant Kurdish town. Their campaign is designed to sever the connections between strategic Kurdish locations such as Manbij and Tel Rifaat. The SNA has framed the attacks as a reclamation of Syrian land from both the Assad regime and Kurdish forces, who they accuse of occupation since 2016 during the Kurdish advance backed by Russian air support. This narrative echoes Turkey’s longstanding justification for its military campaigns in the region—characterizing any Kurdish presence as an existential threat to national security.
Amid escalating tensions, Kurdish leaders have mobilized their forces in response to the SNA’s offensive, calling for unity among various ethnic and local armed groups to resist the Turkish-backed attacks. The SDF’s call for mobilization highlights growing fears regarding the implications of the SNA’s operations on the Kurdish population. The SDF noted that their control over eastern Aleppo was partly aimed at countering HTS’s advances and preventing further territorial loss, emphasizing the complex interconnectivity of the conflict where multiple factions vie for control and influence.
Reports suggest that the SDF has strategically retreated from some areas under pressure but remains vigilant about the ramifications of the SNA’s incursions. The fall of Tel Rifaat raises alarms about possible ethnic violence in the strategically significant Kurdish enclave, especially considering the history of forced displacement and ethnic cleaning allegations directed at Turkish forces and their allies in the region. The chaotic battleground, outlined by recent military setbacks for Kurdish forces, evokes fears of potential human rights violations against approximately 200,000 Kurdish civilians in the surrounding areas.
Simultaneously, the Assad regime has reacted to the upheaval in Aleppo with vigorous airstrikes, supported by Russian intervention, as the unfolding chaos threatens established power dynamics. The scenario encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the Syrian Civil War, where various players, including local militias, state actors, and foreign powers, intertwine in a struggle for territorial control, resource access, and ideological dominance. The overlapping conflicts signal that the Syrian Civil War, while stalled for years, remains far from resolution, as new offensive operations by the SNA and HTS could reignite old grievances and lead to further regional destabilization.
