Dec 12

Dec 12 Syria’s Kurds withdraw from Manbij following US ultimatum

Introduction

Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Manbij

A US-brokered ceasefire was reached between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed fighters in Manbij, Syria.

The SDF agreed to withdraw from the area following intense clashes that resulted in 218 combatant deaths.

History

Syrian Kurds primarily reside in three main regions along the northern border with Turkey: Afrin, Kobane, and Jazira (also known as Rojava)

Additionally, significant Kurdish populations are found in major cities such as Aleppo and Damascus.

In Damascus, they are notably present in the neighborhood of Hayy al-Akrad

Kurds also live in the vicinity of Jarabulus and the foothills of the Taurus Mountains north of Aleppo.

15% of Manbij’s population is Kurdish, despite the predominance of Kurdish-led forces in the area.

Manbij is strategically important for Kurds because it serves as a key location in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), providing a buffer between Turkish-controlled areas and Kurdish regions.

The city is also significant as it was liberated from ISIS by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2016, marking it as a symbol of Kurdish resilience and governance

US Ultimatum and Kurdish Withdrawal

The US issued an ultimatum Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Manbij

A ceasefire mediated by the United States has been established between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed fighters in Manbij, Syria. In light of the intense clashes that resulted in 218 combatant casualties, the SDF consented to withdraw from the area, with the stipulation that military protection would be withdrawn should they fail to comply. Consequently, the Kurdish forces relinquished control of Manbij to the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army.

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