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11-17 Jan 2025

Published: Jan 18, 2025

SYRIA SITREP: 2025-01-11 - 2025-01-17 (Published: 2025-01-18)

Executive Summary

The week of January 11-17, 2025, saw a significant surge in international engagement with Syria's interim government following the fall of the Assad regime. High-level visits from Turkey, the UN, Germany, Spain, Qatar, Japan, and the EU signaled a shift in diplomatic relations, with Qatar notably announcing the resumption of ties. Discussions around the easing of sanctions by the EU and UK were prominent, building on the US's earlier General License 24 for energy and remittances. Domestically, the interim government focused on economic stabilization, health sector reforms, and the integration of armed factions into a unified military structure. Security remained a critical concern, marked by continued Israeli incursions and airstrikes in the southwest, persistent ISIS activity in Deir ez Zour, and intense clashes between SNA/Turkish forces and the SDF around the Tishreen Dam in Aleppo. Widespread incidents involving unexploded ordnance continued to cause civilian casualties across multiple governorates. The interim government's Department for Military Operations (DMO) and General Security Service (GSS) conducted numerous operations against former regime loyalists, criminal networks, and drug smuggling operations. Key watchpoints for the coming period include the progression of international sanctions relief and investment, and the interim government's ability to consolidate control and integrate diverse armed groups.

Detailed Analysis

1. Politics

International Affairs
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) On January 12, news emerged that EU Foreign Ministers were planning to meet in late-January to discuss the state of Syria sanctions and whether they should be “relaxed” now that Assad’s regime is no more. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated any decision to ease sanctions would be “conditional” on the transitional government’s approach to women, minority groups, and combating “radicalization.” A similar message was conveyed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during their visit to Damascus on January 3.
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) Germany appears to have taken the lead in pushing for significant sanctions easing, including restrictions on direct banking, financial channels, high-value goods, business investments, direct travel, and fuels.
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) Italy is also pushing hard for removing Syria sanctions, highlighted by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's visit to Damascus on January 10.
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) The US government introduced General License 24 (GL24) on January 6, a temporary six-month measure waiving most sanctions on transactions with the Syrian government for energy (petroleum, gas, electricity) and personal remittances. This step aims to facilitate energy supply from Riyadh, Doha, and Kyiv, as well as wheat and funds for public sector salaries.
  • January 14: Belgian Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin declared that Assad's dictatorship was one of the worst in history and that Belgium was ready to support the new Syrian authority if it fulfills its obligations towards the Syrian people.
  • January 15: Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani traveled to Turkey alongside Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and MIT intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Shaybani declared there was no longer “any justification” for the SDF to remain in northeastern Syria, that Arab tribes needed to be restored as authority in Arab areas, and “not one inch” of Syria should remain outside of Damascus’ sovereign control.
  • January 15: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa held a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk in Damascus. Turk expressed being impressed by the Syrians' courage and determination, highlighting the historic moment to listen to victims' pain, and the need to prosecute perpetrators of human rights crimes. He also emphasized the impact of sanctions on the Syrian people and the necessity to work towards lifting them.
  • January 15: UK Foreign Minister David Lammy announced that a review was underway of all UK sanctions on Syria, with removal dependent on the actions of the interim government in Damascus.
  • January 15: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Israel withdraw from Syrian territory and immediately end its hostility in Syria.
  • January 15: Turkish Airlines announced it would begin three flights per week into Damascus, starting January 23.
  • January 15: Syria’s interim Chairman of the Land and Sea Ports Authority, Qutaiba al-Badawi, convened a meeting with the Secretary-General of Jordan’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Dana al-Zoubi in Damascus, discussing closer coordination of trade and exchange across their land borders.
  • January 15: Syria’s interim Minister of Health Dr Maher al-Sharaa hosted Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, in Damascus for a working meeting on joint cooperation in Syria’s health sector.
  • January 16: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed a visit to Damascus by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
  • January 16: The Spanish government formally re-opened its Embassy in Damascus during Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares' visit.
  • January 16: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a visit by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Damascus. Sharaa announced Syria was “ready to welcome UN forces” in Quneitra to “restore” conditions to what they were prior to Israel’s incursions. Prime Minister al-Thani announced “the resumption of Qatari-Syrian relations after a 13-year hiatus” and stated that the situation in Syria requires urgent consideration of lifting sanctions.
  • January 16: Syrian interim Foreign Minister hosted meetings with Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ando Toshhide in Damascus.
  • January 16: Royal Jordanian Airlines announced that flights between Amman and Damascus would resume on January 31.
  • January 16: SDF leader Mazloum Abdi traveled to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and was hosted for meetings with KDP leader Masoud Barzani, discussing the future of Syria and the need for Kurdish unity.
  • January 16: U.S. CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla visited northeast Syria, meeting with SDF leadership and visiting the al-Hol camp.
  • January 17: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani welcomed a visit from EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib in Damascus. Lahbib said that “Syria’s new administration has a great and historic responsibility and must bring peace to the Syrian people,” and announced a new 235 million Euro humanitarian aid package for Syria.
  • January 17: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani hosted ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan in Damascus, for discussions on how the ICC can assist with justice and accountability efforts in Syria.
  • January 17: HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa held a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties and the need to coordinate closely on Syria’s transition, development, and matters of sovereignty.
Domestic Affairs
  • January 14: Minister of Justice Shadi al-Waisi announced plans to establish courts to prosecute “field court judges” from the former regime.
  • January 15: Interim Minister of Health Dr. Maher al-Sharaa announced the immediate dismissal of the Director of Drug Control after a preliminary investigation discovered that most medicines manufactured in Syria contained less than 50% of their required ingredients.
  • January 16: Syria’s Ministry of Interior opened applications for recruits to join the Department of Border Security.
  • Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra accused the SDF of “procrastinating” in talks with the interim government over their future status and potential integration into “the Syrian state,” stating the SDF is expected to “enter the Defence Ministry within the hierarchy of the Defence Ministry.”

2. Business

Economic Policy & Development
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) Syria remains in the grip of a spiraling humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by winter, with 50% of basic infrastructure and 35% of housing destroyed, and 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line. International estimates for Syria’s reconstruction stand around $500 billion.
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) The primary aid effort in Syria run by the UN has fallen back significantly since Assad’s departure, with donor levels lower than ever despite rising aid needs.
  • (Event from Jan 13, 2025) Early measures to fuse together the diverse economies in Syria’s northwest, south, and in the center and west of the country are revealing huge challenges as customs duties, salaries, and other economic measures are merged.
  • January 14: Syria’s Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Bassel Abdul Hannan announced significant effort was being expended to control the SYP exchange rate, stating that as of mid-January 2025, $120 represented the minimum cost of living for an average Syrian citizen.
  • January 15: The Syrian Central Bank announced a decision to end the limit of SYP 5 million on daily transfers into or out of the country.
Humanitarian Aid
  • January 14: A third cargo plane full of Kuwaiti aid for Syria arrived into Damascus International Airport, carrying 35 tons of humanitarian assistance.

3. Security

Regional Conflict & Border Security
  • January 15: The mayor of the village of Ghadir al-Bustan was killed alongside two DMO fighters in an Israeli airstrike that targeted them in the village. Several civilians were also injured.
  • January 15: Israel announced that its military forces had seized 3,300 pieces of weaponry and military equipment – including tanks, artillery rockets, and anti-tank missiles – during incursions into southwestern Syria since the fall of Assad’s regime.
  • Late January 15 / Early January 16: Israeli military forces launched a two-pronged incursion into the villages of Ayn Zikr, Saysoun, al-Qayd, al-Saydah, and al-Mualaqa in Daraa and Quneitra.
  • January 17: Israeli military forces advanced into several areas of Quneitra, including conducting an armored patrol along the periphery of the Mantara Dam, and conducting an hour-long search of several former regime bases and factories nearby.
  • January 14: A child was killed and her parents were injured in an SDF artillery strike that hit their home in al-Khafsa in eastern Aleppo.
  • January 14: In the early hours, SDF fighters launched an attempted cross-line incursion into SNA-held areas in al-Saydiyah on the road towards the Tishreen Dam, triggering clashes that left several combatants dead.
  • January 14: Hours later, SNA fighters launched an attack on SDF frontline positions on Tel Syriatel on the approach to the Tishreen Dam, triggering heavy fighting that left several combatants dead. Amidst the wider fighting, SDF fighters launched artillery barrages towards SNA positions in Tel Arish and Abu Kalkal villages; four SDF suicide drones struck SNA fighters in al-Muftaniyah; at least three Turkish airstrikes targeted SDF positions; and one SDF fighter was killed by an SNA suicide drone.
  • January 15: Five civilians were killed when their protest convoy was reportedly targeted by a Turkish drone strike on the main road towards the Tishreen Dam. Heavy fighting continued between SNA and SDF forces over the Qaraqozak bridge and the countryside surrounding the Tishreen Dam.
  • Early January 16: At least five Turkish drone strikes targeted SDF frontline positions on the approach road to the Tishreen Dam, resulting in several casualties.
  • January 17: At least four SNA fighters were killed in a series of small-scale SDF raids on SNA frontline posts along the Tishreen Dam frontline. Several SDF suicide drones were also launched at SNA positions.
  • January 17: The SDF reportedly downed a Turkish drone southwest of Kobani and at least five Turkish airstrikes hit SDF frontline positions south of Sareen.
  • Late January 17: Three civilians were injured when a car bomb detonated in Manbij. Local reporting blamed the attack on SDF-linked forces.
  • January 15: Turkish military forces launched artillery strikes on SDF positions outside the town of Abu Raseen in northwestern Hasakeh, but casualties were not confirmed.
  • January 17: A Turkish drone strike targeted an SDF-linked building in Qamishli’s al-Gharbi district, damaging a nearby fuel tank but causing no confirmed casualties.
  • January 17: SDF fighters launched a number of artillery shells at Turkish military bases outside Abu Raseen.
  • January 15: Two women were shot dead when they failed to stop their vehicle as it approached and then drove through a checkpoint in Suluk, Raqqa.
  • January 16: At least one Turkish drone strike targeted an SDF position in the village of Sakiro in rural northern Raqqa.
  • January 16: Another Turkish drone strike targeted an SDF position in al-Jarniyah in western Raqqa. Casualties were unconfirmed.
  • January 16: SDF fighters in the village of Sakiro outside Ayn Issa shot down at least three SNA suicide drones.
  • January 17: One Turkish drone strike targeted an SDF post outside the al-Rafiqah area in western rural Raqqa. Casualties were not confirmed.
Internal Security Operations & Law Enforcement
  • January 14: Regime loyalist commander Bassam Nasser al-Din was killed along with at least three of his fighters when DMO forces launched a major raid on his position outside Jableh, Latakia. All DMO hostages taken earlier by his forces were released.
  • January 14: DMO forces detained Alawite notable Saleh Mansour in Latakia, after he had appeared in multiple public protests and online speeches calling for foreign intervention in Syria to protect Alawites.
  • Late January 14: DMO forces detained several jihadists for chanting violent sectarian threats against Alawites in the al-Salabiyah area of Latakia.
  • Late January 16: HTS-linked GSS forces launched a targeted raid on a kidnapping ring in Baniyas, Tartus, freeing one hostage, Mohammed Nour. His kidnappers were later captured.
  • January 17: DMO and GSS forces intercepted and seized a truck-load of Iranian weaponry destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon during a targeted raid in Tartus. The shipment included Iranian Shahed suicide drones, as well as rifles and ammunition.
  • January 17: DMO forces launched a major search operation in rural southern Tartus, looking for regime loyalists believed to be hiding in the area. Several suspects were detained.
  • January 14: DMO forces detained prominent regime loyalist commander Haydar Nasaan in a targeted raid in Qomhana, Hama.
  • January 15: DMO and GSS forces launched a large-scale search operation between the towns of Qomhana and Khattab in Hama, looking for regime loyalists. Additional raids in Arz and Halfaya resulted in many arrests and large quantities of weapons seized.
  • January 14: The HTS-linked GSS launched a targeted raid in the village of Umm Haratein west of Homs, seizing control of a former regime and/or Hezbollah arms depot storing landmines and artillery rockets.
  • January 14: DMO forces launched a search operation in the village of Tasneen outside Homs, looking for wanted regime loyalists. Clashes erupted at one point.
  • January 15: DMO forces used heavy bulldozers to close down access and use of an illegal border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, located near al-Qusayr, Homs.
  • January 16: DMO forces launched a major search operation in the villages of Akrad al-Dasiniyah and Jabourin in rural Homs, looking for wanted regime loyalists. Local reporting claimed “dozens” were detained, but later released.
  • Late January 17: Suspected DMO forces launched a string of raids on villages in northern Homs in search of regime loyalists. Local reporting claimed 21 men were detained, with significant abuses reported, though almost all were released a day later.
  • January 16: GSS forces captured a drugs cell operating in Aleppo’s al-Salaheen district, seizing a quantity of drugs.
  • January 17: GSS forces detained a group of regime loyalists in Bab al-Nayrab in Aleppo.
  • Late January 17: GSS forces launched a targeted raid in Aleppo city, freeing two male hostages kidnapped by a group of gunmen impersonating DMO forces. The kidnapping group, consisting of five men, was captured.
  • January 14: Egyptian Islamist Ahmed al-Mansour was reportedly detained by HTS-linked forces in Damascus, presumably for his social media campaign calling for the overthrow of Egypt’s President Abdulfattah al-Sisi.
  • Late January 14: Several jihadists handing out pamphlets calling for jihad and demanding that women fully cover were detained by DMO forces in the al-Qassa district of Damascus.
  • January 15: DMO and GSS forces launched an extensive search operation in the Wadi al-Mashari and Jabal al-Raz areas in the outskirts of northwestern Damascus, looking for regime loyalists and stores of regime weaponry.
  • January 15: DMO forces also launched a search operation in Dummar and al-Dimas, Damascus, capturing several men, including a cell accused of stealing the contents of a former regime weapons depot.
  • January 16: Several former regime loyalists were detained by DMO and GSS forces during a raid on the Hafir Fawqa area north of Damascus.
  • January 14: DMO forces launched a search operation looking for regime loyalists in the village of Talfita in the Qalamoun, Rif Dimashq, resulting in several arrests.
  • January 14: DMO forces collected further stocks of surrendered weaponry from former regime forces in the village of Ghabaghb in northern Daraa. The weaponry seized included anti-tank guided missiles.
  • January 14-16: DMO forces collected further stocks of surrendered weaponry from former regime forces in the town of al-Sanamayn in northern Daraa. The weaponry seized included man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), as well as anti-tank guided missiles, some concealed underground.
  • January 15: A local resident in Dael, Ahmed Abu Jiysh, engaged a local GSS fighter in a brawl at the GSS headquarters after filing a complaint, resulting in his injury.
  • Late January 17: DMO forces captured prominent regime loyalist Mohammed Kurdi – the senior aide to senior regime commander Abu Ali Lahham – in a targeted raid in Daraa. His capture triggered public celebrations across the governorate.
Terrorism (ISIS)
  • January 14: ISIS militants ambushed an SDF convoy traveling through the village of al-Zar in eastern Deir ez Zour, triggering a brief clash but no casualties.
  • January 15: U.S. aircraft reportedly conducted several airstrikes targeting ISIS cells transporting weapons from the desert towards urban areas in Deir ez Zour.
  • January 16: One SDF fighter was shot dead by suspected ISIS militants during an attack near the Abu Khashab camp in northern Deir ez Zour.
  • January 16: One SDF vehicle was targeted by an ISIS IED as it drove through al-Shafah in eastern Deir ez Zour, resulting in several casualties.
  • January 16: Local reports claimed U.S. aircraft dropped several bombs over the village of Albu Amr east of Deir ez Zour city, in apparent strikes targeting ISIS cells.
  • January 15: A U.S. drone strike targeted and killed two individuals driving a motorbike outside the town of Sarmada, Idlib. Those killed were identified as Mohammed al-Dhiban (a militant with former associations with both ISIS and Jund al-Aqsa) and Nayf al-Alawi. A 16-year-old boy was killed while walking close to the strike.
Explosive Ordnance Incidents
  • January 15: One woman was killed after triggering a landmine or IED in the countryside outside the Tishreen Dam, Aleppo.
  • January 16: One man was killed after his tractor triggered an unexploded landmine outside the village of Herbel near Marea, Aleppo.
  • January 16: Three children were severely injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Tal Tuwaynah outside Khanasser in rural Aleppo.
  • Late January 16: An IED detonated amid passing traffic on the main road linking Manbij with Jarablus, Aleppo, but no casualties were caused.
  • January 17: Six civilians were injured in two separate incidents of unexploded munitions detonating – one in the village of Tuways and the other in Zoyan in rural Aleppo.
  • January 14: One man was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Ardh al-Wata in Jabal al-Akrad, Latakia.
  • January 16: One man, identified locally as Ali Wannous, was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in Jabal al-Akrad, Latakia.
  • January 14: Two civilians were injured after their vehicle triggered a landmine on the main road outside the village of Bayoud in eastern Hama.
  • January 14: Two civilians were killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Bayoud outside the town of al-Rahjoun in eastern Hama.
  • January 16: One DMO fighter was killed while an unexploded landmine he was attempting to defuse detonated in Kafranbel, Idlib.
  • January 16: Two civilians were injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded munition in the village of Kawkabah in southern Idlib.
  • January 14: Two children were killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded munition in Ayyash in western Deir ez Zour.
  • January 15: One civilian was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in rural western Deir ez Zour.
  • January 15: One boy was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded munition in Lajat, Daraa.
  • January 16: A landmine placed outside the 34th Brigade base in Lajat, Daraa, detonated, but caused no casualties.
  • January 17: Two children were injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the town of Busra al-Harir, Daraa.
  • January 17: Two civilians were injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded munition outside Busra al-Harir, Daraa.
  • January 15: One man was killed and another was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded munition in the village of al-Taybah in eastern Suwayda.
Localized Violence & Criminality
  • January 14: One man, identified locally as Mohammed al-Hamdou, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Aleppo city’s al-Furqan district.
  • January 15: Seven local men were detained by SNA fighters during a series of raids in the village of al-Nayrabiyah outside al-Bab, Aleppo.
  • January 16: One man was killed in crossfire during an attempt to mediate and stop clashes between rival families in the village of al-Salajiyah outside Marea, Aleppo.
  • January 14: One woman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in al-Hara al-Gharbiya in Hama city.
  • January 16: Two men were kidnapped and later executed by unidentified gunmen in an attack in the village of al-Majdal outside Mahradeh, Hama.
  • January 14: The bodies of two men were discovered – showing signs of execution – in a graveyard in the village of Tel al-Nasr in rural Homs. Local reporting claimed they had been kidnapped three weeks earlier.
  • Late January 14: One man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike in the south of Homs city.
  • January 16: Syrian Free Army forces conducted patrols through the city of Palmyra, Homs, with the reported assistance from the air of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.
  • January 17: Katibat Sayf al-Bahr, a purported splinter faction from HTS opposed to the method of the group’s rule in Syria, claimed to have ambushed an SDF patrol near Tabqa Airbase, Raqqa.
  • January 16: One man was shot and run over by unidentified gunmen in a car in Douma, Damascus. Local reporting claimed the attack was conducted by regime loyalists, who suspected the man was a member of DMO forces.
  • January 17: One man was shot dead by an unidentified gunman after being accused of complicity in a string of regime disappearances in the Yarmouk Camp, Damascus.
  • January 14: The body of one man – showing signs of execution – was discovered in the town of Hafer al-Fowqa, Rif Dimashq.
  • January 16: Two men were kidnapped and later executed by unidentified gunmen in al-Tal, Rif Dimashq. Both showed signs of torture.
  • January 16: One man was shot dead inside his commercial store in al-Tal, Rif Dimashq.
  • January 16: The former regime mayor of Hosh Arab – and a senior provincial member of the Baath Party – north of Damascus was killed by local residents, after being accused of complicity in the disappearance of dozens of citizens.
  • January 17: Katibat Sayf al-Bahr claimed to have ambushed a DMO patrol in Harasta, Rif Dimashq.
  • January 16: A former FSA commander, Ibrahim al-Rifai, was shot and wounded by unidentified assassins in Nawa, Daraa. He had been targeted by assassins previously.
  • January 16: One man, identified locally as Mohammed al-Turkmani, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in al-Hirak, Daraa.
  • January 17: One man was shot and injured by unidentified gunmen in the village of Saysoun in the Yarmouk Basin, Daraa.
  • January 14: One man was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen during an attack on his home in the al-Khodr district of Suwayda city.
  • January 15: The corpse of one man – showing signs of execution – was discovered in the town of Arnan in southern Suwayda.
  • January 15: At least one combatant was killed and four others injured in an armed clash between rival families in Suwayda city.

Relevant Context

The ongoing discussions and actions regarding sanctions on Syria are a critical element of the current transition. These sanctions were initially imposed by Western powers, including the US, UK, and EU, to punish the Assad regime for its actions during the civil war, particularly for war crimes and crimes against humanity. With the fall of Assad, there is a debate among international actors about whether these sanctions should remain in place, be eased, or lifted entirely, especially given the severe humanitarian crisis and the immense need for reconstruction (estimated at $500 billion). The introduction of US General License 24 and the EU/UK reviews reflect a recognition of the humanitarian imperative and the desire to support Syria's economic recovery, which is seen as crucial for the success of the transition. However, concerns remain about the nature of the new interim government, particularly its links to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an organization previously designated as a terrorist group.

The transition in Syria is being managed by an interim government, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) playing a significant role. The provided data indicates a shift in terminology, with the military coalition now referred to as the Department for Military Operations (DMO) and the security service as the General Security Service (GSS), both still heavily linked to HTS. This change reflects an ongoing effort to integrate various armed factions and establish a more unified state structure post-Assad. The interim government's actions, such as engaging with international bodies like the UN and ICC, and addressing domestic issues like drug manufacturing and economic stability, are part of its efforts to gain legitimacy and demonstrate its capacity for governance. This period is crucial for defining the character and direction of the new Syrian state.

The Tishreen Dam area in Aleppo has emerged as a significant flashpoint in the ongoing security landscape. This region is strategically important due to its control over water resources and its location along key transportation routes. The persistent clashes between the Syrian National Army (SNA), supported by Turkish forces, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) highlight the complex and fragmented nature of control in northern Syria. The SNA and Turkey aim to expand their influence and push back SDF control, while the SDF seeks to defend its territory. The intensity of the fighting, including the use of artillery, drones, and ground incursions, underscores the volatile nature of these frontlines and the continued risk to civilian populations caught in the crossfire.