US- and Turkish-backed forces in Syria agree truce – commander

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) have reached a ceasefire after days of fighting for control of the northern city of Manbij, top SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has announced.

The Kurdish-dominated SDF reported earlier that the SNA had been attacking Manbij, a city to the northeast of Aleppo, since November 27 and was advancing towards Kobani, a Kurdish stronghold near the border with Türkiye.

According to Turkish media, the SNA was conducting operations against Kurdish militias that are affiliated with the SDF and are considered terrorist groups in Türkiye.

“We have reached a ceasefire agreement in Manbij with US mediation, in order to preserve the security and safety of civilians,” Abdi wrote on X in the early hours of Wednesday. He added that local SDF fighters “will be withdrawn from the area as soon as possible.” 

“Our goal is a ceasefire across Syria and to enter into a political process for the future of the country,” Abdi wrote.  

The assault coincided with a general offensive by Syrian armed opposition groups, which culminated over the weekend with the capture of Damascus and the ouster of former President Bashar Assad.

Syria has remained a divided country since 2011, when rebellion against Assad progressed into a full-blown civil war.

The uneasy balance established by the 2020 truce radically shifted earlier this month after the opposition dominated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists launched a lightning offensive capturing several major cities, including Damascus and Aleppo. The SDF launched its own offensive in the eastern part of the country, hoping to capitalize on the collapse of the Syrian government army.