In a disturbing escalation of violence in northern Syria, a car bomb targeting agricultural workers has resulted in the deaths of 15 people, predominantly women, while others are critically injured. The attack occurred near Manbij and raises concerns over the region's conflict.
Deadly Car Bomb Attack Targets Agricultural Workers in Northern Syria
Deadly Car Bomb Attack Targets Agricultural Workers in Northern Syria
A car bomb in Manbij has tragically claimed the lives of 15 agricultural workers, with many others gravely injured, amidst ongoing tensions in the region.
At least 15 individuals, 14 of them women, lost their lives today in a car bomb explosion targeting a vehicle carrying agricultural workers in northern Syria. First responders from the Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, reported that another 15 women sustained injuries from the blast near Manbij, positioned east of Aleppo. Authorities indicate that some of the injured are in critical condition and warn that the fatality count may increase.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which stands as the deadliest incident since rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad last December. This incident marks the second car bomb attack in the vicinity of Manbij within just three days. On Saturday, a blast in the city center killed four individuals, including two children and a woman.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in the UK, the recent explosion occurred near a military post, claiming the lives of nine people, several of whom were reported to be pro-Turkish fighters.
The ongoing conflict in Syria has witnessed intense fighting in Manbij and surrounding areas, where factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) are clashing with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy support from the US. The SNA launched a campaign to seize territories west of the Euphrates River that the SDF has held since defeating the Islamic State (IS) in 2016.
The SNA succeeded in taking control of Manbij on December 9 after the withdrawal of fighters from the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council. However, the SDF has been actively conducting counter-offensive operations since that time, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region.
