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Syrian National Army launches operation against PKK/YPG terrorist group in N. Syria

Fighters fire towards Syrian Army troops in the Rashidin district on the outskirts of Aleppo on Nov. 29, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Fighters fire towards Syrian Army troops in the Rashidin district on the outskirts of Aleppo on Nov. 29, 2024. (AFP Photo)
December 01, 2024 04:34 PM GMT+03:00

The Syrian National Army (SNA) has launched "Operation Dawn of Freedom" to counter the PKK/YPG terrorist group's plan to establish a terror corridor linking Tel Rifaat to northeastern Syria, security sources said.

Renewed tensions in northern Syria

Tensions in northern Syria escalated after anti-regime armed groups recently captured Aleppo, the country's second-largest city.

The swift opposition advance caused Syrian regime forces to lose significant territory, prompting the regime to seek support from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.

The regime began transferring control of its territories east of the Euphrates to the PKK/YPG. In response, large numbers of PKK/YPG terrorists and heavy weaponry were moved from the eastern Euphrates region to Aleppo.

The PKK/YPG attempted to capitalize on this situation by creating a corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria. However, the SNA thwarted this plan by launching an operation to cut off the critical route between Raqqa and Aleppo.

IDLIB, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 29: Armed opposition, anti-regime groups in Syria enter strategically important town of Saraqib in Idlib on November 29, 2024. The anti-regime armed groups, which had been advancing towards Aleppo from the west after clashing with regime forces for three days, broke through the defense lines in the Hamdaniyya, New Aleppo, and Zahra axes in Aleppo's western countryside and entered the city center. ( Bekir Kasim - Anadolu Agency )ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 30: Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria on November 30, 2024. Reaching Sadallah al-Jabiri Square, a central location in the city, the groups advanced further, taking over a significant portion of Aleppo. In a short period, the opposition forces also seized the governor's office, the police headquarters, and Aleppo Citadel, a symbolic landmark of the city. ( Ömer Ulvan - Anadolu Agency )Fighters drive on the international M5 highway in the area Zarbah which was taken over by anti-government fighters on November 29, 2024, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and allied factions continue their offensive in Syria's northern Aleppo province against government forces. - The jihadists along with Turkey-backed factions launched this week a shock offensive against Syrian regime troops and sparked the deadliest battle the country has seen in years, with the violence killing so far 242 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The war monitor said most of the victims were combatants on both sides but also including civilians. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 30: Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria on November 30, 2024. Reaching Sadallah al-Jabiri Square, a central location in the city, the groups advanced further, taking over a significant portion of Aleppo. In a short period, the opposition forces also seized the governor's office, the police headquarters, and Aleppo Citadel, a symbolic landmark of the city. ( Ömer Ulvan - Anadolu Agency )
IDLIB, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 29: Armed opposition, anti-regime groups in Syria enter strategically important town of Saraqib in Idlib on November 29, 2024. The anti-regime armed groups, which had been advancing towards Aleppo from the west after clashing with regime forces for three days, broke through the defense lines in the Hamdaniyya, New Aleppo, and Zahra axes in Aleppo's western countryside and entered the city center. ( Bekir Kasim - Anadolu Agency )ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 30: Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria on November 30, 2024. Reaching Sadallah al-Jabiri Square, a central location in the city, the groups advanced further, taking over a significant portion of Aleppo. In a short period, the opposition forces also seized the governor's office, the police headquarters, and Aleppo Citadel, a symbolic landmark of the city. ( Ömer Ulvan - Anadolu Agency )Fighters drive on the international M5 highway in the area Zarbah which was taken over by anti-government fighters on November 29, 2024, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and allied factions continue their offensive in Syria's northern Aleppo province against government forces. - The jihadists along with Turkey-backed factions launched this week a shock offensive against Syrian regime troops and sparked the deadliest battle the country has seen in years, with the violence killing so far 242 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The war monitor said most of the victims were combatants on both sides but also including civilians. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 30: Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria on November 30, 2024. Reaching Sadallah al-Jabiri Square, a central location in the city, the groups advanced further, taking over a significant portion of Aleppo. In a short period, the opposition forces also seized the governor's office, the police headquarters, and Aleppo Citadel, a symbolic landmark of the city. ( Ömer Ulvan - Anadolu Agency )

'Operation dawn of freedom'

Recognizing the PKK/YPG's maneuvers amid the regime’s territorial losses, the SNA quickly launched "Operation Dawn of Freedom" and disrupted the group's efforts.

By blocking the connection between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria, the SNA effectively halted the PKK/YPG's plan to establish a terror corridor.

Background on Tel Rifaat

The PKK/YPG terrorist organization, with air support from Russia, seized control of Tel Rifaat and surrounding areas in February 2016, displacing nearly 250,000 civilians. Many of those displaced sought refuge near the Turkish border.

From its stronghold in Tel Rifaat, the PKK/YPG launched attacks on settlements in regions secured by Türkiye's Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch, as well as on positions held by Turkish security forces and opposition fighters.

The PKK/YPG maintained control of Tel Rifaat by collaborating with the Assad regime and its allies.

However, with the advance of opposition groups into Aleppo, regime forces have since withdrawn from Tel Rifaat.

ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 28: Armed groups take control of a tank used by the regime as anti-regime groups and the Bashar al-Assad regime clash in Aleppo, Syria on November 28, 2024. ( Kasim Rammah - Anadolu Agency )Syrian rebels deploy in Atareb in the western areas of Syria's northern Aleppo province, Nov. 28, 2024. (AFP Photo)Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. - Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria's second city of Aleppo on November 29, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)Anti-government fighters wave opposition flags in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. (AFP Photo)
ALEPPO, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 28: Armed groups take control of a tank used by the regime as anti-regime groups and the Bashar al-Assad regime clash in Aleppo, Syria on November 28, 2024. ( Kasim Rammah - Anadolu Agency )Syrian rebels deploy in Atareb in the western areas of Syria's northern Aleppo province, Nov. 28, 2024. (AFP Photo)Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. - Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria's second city of Aleppo on November 29, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)Anti-government fighters wave opposition flags in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. (AFP Photo)

Recent events on operation dawn of freedom

During Operation Dawn of Freedom, the Syrian National Army captured Kuweires Military Airport in Aleppo and cut the PKK/YPG terror group's Tel Rifaat-Manbij logistics line.

In its Operation Dawn of Freedom against the PKK-YPG terror group, the Syrian National Army liberates three villages in Tel Rifaat.

As part of the operation, the SNA has captured Tel Rifat's villages of Shagoreet, Tebnah, Al-Malikiyah, Kafr Kalbin, Kafr Naya, Miskan, Al-Ghuz, Tatmuras, Tal Anab, Mazraat Hamad, Zouyan, Maaranaz, and Zouyan Hill.

Clashes between SNA forces and terrorists, who have entrenched themselves in Tel Rifat, continue on the northwest, northeast, east, and south fronts of the region.

Syrian National Army liberates Minnigh Airbase in Tel Rifat from terrorists as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom, launched to block PKK/YPG’s Tel Rifat-Manbij corridor.

December 01, 2024 04:34 PM GMT+03:00
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