Tensions are rising again in Syria after a new round of violence in the north. On Saturday, both the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused each other of launching attacks in the city of Manbij. The incident could place a recent cooperation deal between the two sides in serious danger.
The Syrian defence ministry said the SDF had fired several rockets at one of its army positions located just outside the city. The ministry reported that four soldiers and three civilians were injured in the attack. It described the shelling as unjustified and irresponsible, according to state media.
The SDF, which is supported by the United States, strongly denied the accusation. In a public statement, the group said it was only responding to an earlier artillery attack. That attack, they claimed, came from fighters linked to the Syrian army and had targeted civilian areas. More than ten shells were allegedly fired at neighborhoods filled with residents. The SDF did not report any casualties from that strike.
In March, the SDF signed a deal with the Syrian government to start working more closely together. The goal was to bring back unity to a country that has been divided by 14 years of war. The SDF controls about a quarter of Syria and has run its own administration in the northeast. The agreement aimed to help the SDF and its local government bodies become part of Syria’s national institutions.
However, the agreement did not include clear steps for how this would happen. One major disagreement remains over how the SDF’s military forces would be included in the Syrian army. The SDF wants its fighters to join as one organized group, keeping their command structure. The Syrian government, on the other hand, wants them to join individually and follow the central military chain of command.
Saturday’s violence in Manbij has sparked fears that the plan to unify Syria could fall apart. Each side is now accusing the other of breaking the terms of the deal. The SDF said the artillery fire came from groups linked to the Syrian army and called on the government to stop these factions. The group also stated that it remains committed to reducing conflict in the region.
The city of Manbij has long been an area of tension. It sits near areas controlled by Turkish-backed groups and has seen regular clashes in the past. The SDF captured Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016, with support from the US-led coalition. Since then, Turkey has demanded the SDF leave the area, saying the group is tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist group.
Last month, a Turkish defence ministry source said the SDF must show that it is sticking to the terms of the deal with the Syrian government. Turkey continues to watch the situation closely and remains concerned about any moves that might give more power to Kurdish groups near its border.
Saturday’s incident in Manbij shows just how fragile the agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government really is. Both sides say they want peace, but on the ground, old conflicts and mistrust remain. If attacks like this continue, the hopes of rebuilding a united Syria could face even greater challenges in the months ahead.