A car bomb explosion in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Monday claimed the lives of at least 15 people, making it the deadliest attack since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December. The blast, which occurred just 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, came only three days after another bombing in the same city.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the civil defense rescue service, the victims included 14 women and one man, while 15 others sustained injuries.
SDF Accuses Turkey-Backed Factions
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) condemned the bombing, alleging that factions supported by Turkey were behind such violent tactics aimed at intimidating local residents.
A civil defense official told Reuters that the victims were agricultural workers and warned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of injuries.
Manbij’s Shifting Control in Syria’s Conflict
Manbij has been a highly contested city throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, changing hands multiple times. In December, it was captured by Turkish-backed forces from the U.S.-backed SDF, which is primarily led by the Kurdish YPG militia. Before that, the SDF had liberated Manbij from Islamic State militants in 2016.
Second Attack in Three Days
The bombing comes after another car bomb exploded in Manbij on Saturday, killing four civilians and injuring nine others, including children, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
Assad’s Overthrow and New Leadership
On December 8, Assad was removed from power following a rapid military offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Last week, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was declared Syria’s transitional president.
