SDF–SNA clashes Clashes broke out between SDF and SNA forces as SDF forces began to enter government-controlled towns in northern Aleppo, which government forces were retreating from due to the HTS-led offensive on
Aleppo from
Idlib. On 1 December 2024, SNA captured the towns of
as-Safirah,
Khanasir and the
Kuweires airbase, while clashes occurred between SNA and SDF in the Sheikh Najjar district of Aleppo city. On 6 December 2024, the SNA launched an offensive targeting the SDF-controlled city of
Manbij. As the last SDF-controlled area west of the Euphrates, Manbij represented a crucial strategic point for Turkey's goal of pushing the SDF eastward beyond the river to enable the SNA to advance toward
Kobani. According to the SOHR and the pro-SDF thinktank
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Turkey conducted drone strikes on SDF positions in Manbij. On 11 December,
Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the SDF, announced that SDF soldiers "will be withdrawn from the area as soon as possible" following a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. On 12 December 2024, a truce mediated by the
United States was announced, though it was ended days later. On 17 December 2024, the truce was extended by a week. Turkish Armed Forces launched airstrikes
in the vicinity of Kobani later that month. On 23 December 2024, the SDF's
Manbij Military Council (MMC)
launched a counteroffensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo to regain control of positions around the
Tishrin Dam and to gain further territory along the
Euphrates River. Fighting was halted following the signing of the
10 March agreement, between the SDF and the Syrian transitional government.
10 March agreement On 10 March 2025, the SDF signed the
10 March agreement with the
Syrian caretaker government, agreeing to integrate into Syria's state institutions, securing
minority rights, establishing a
ceasefire throughout Syria, and retaining limited authority over North and East Syria.
SDF–Syrian transitional government clashes Delays in implementing the 10 March agreement, with both sides accusing each other of obstruction, along with the cancellation of the SDF–STG talks in Paris on 25 July and again on 9–10 August, heightened hostilities between the SDF and the Syrian transitonal government, which ultimately led to clashes between the two. The first clashes were reported on 2 August 2025, near
Dayr Hafir and
al-Khafsah. On 12 August, one Syrian Army soldier was killed in clashes with the SDF near
Dayr Hafir. In addition the government's
Ministry of Information claimed that two civilians were killed and three injured. Coinciding with the clashes the
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) warned of a 'wider conflict' if the
US does not remain fully engaged in preventing the collapse of the March agreement.
Aleppo clashes On 6 October 2025, clashes erupted between forces affiliated with the
Syrian Democratic Forces and government troops in the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyah and
Sheikh Maqsoud. Following the confrontation,
government forces closed all roads leading into the two neighborhoods, effectively restricting movement and access. Residents protested the closures, demanding freedom of movement, and some demonstrations were met with
tear gas and
live fire by security forces. Heavy exchanges of fire, including small arms and medium weapons, were reported in the neighborhoods, resulting in casualties on both sides and displacing some families. Kurdish authorities accused the government-aligned forces of attempting to infiltrate the neighborhoods and targeting civilians. The
Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that army movements in northern and
northeastern Syria respond 'to repeated SDF attacks on civilians and security forces'. Calm returned to the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah after a preliminary agreement between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Offensive on SDF Territory Anti-ISIS operations Operations against ISIS sleeper cells continued after the fall of the Assad regime. In eastern Syria in particular, the SDF, in coordination with the
Global Coalition, carried out 79 security operations, resulting in the arrest of 203 ISIS members, including senior figures, in 2025. These operations also led to the killing of more than 14 ISIS members, including commanders. On 13 December 2025, two U.S soldiers and an U.S civilian interpreter were killed by an alleged Islamic State gunman in the city of
Palmyra, central Syria. The gunman was shot dead by security forces during the attack. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, the attacker was a new recruit in Syria's internal security forces who was suspected of Islamic State ties. == See also ==