US-backed Kurdish forces report ceasefire failure in northen Syria

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DAMASCUS -- US-led mediation efforts have failed to establish a lasting ceasefire in northern Syria's Manbij and Kobani regions, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday.

In a statement from its media center, the SDF accused Türkiye and allied militias of rejecting key provisions in a proposed agreement, including the transfer of remaining Manbij Military Council fighters and civilians seeking relocation to safer areas in northern and eastern Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights corroborated the claim, reporting that Turkish-backed factions have refused to implement the terms of a de-escalation agreement reached with the US-backed SDF. The Observatory added that these factions are blocking entry for the Kurdish Red Crescent and "autonomous administration" convoys aiming to evacuate civilians, prisoners, and the bodies of the deceased.

The situation in Manbij, a strategically vital city in northern Syria, has sharply deteriorated. In late November 2024, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army launched a major offensive against the city, which has been under SDF control. The assault has led to intense clashes, civilian casualties, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

On Dec 11, the SDF said it had reached a US-sponsored ceasefire with Turkish-backed militant groups and retreated from Manbij.

Since its liberation from the Islamic State in 2016, Manbij, a strategic city in the Aleppo province, has been controlled by the US-backed SDF. Türkiye, however, regards the SDF as a terrorist organization and supports rebel groups attempting to drive out these Kurdish-led forces.