Rocket Attack in northern Syria Reignites Tensions Between Syrian Democratic Forces and Damascus

MABBUG (MANBIJ), Syria – A fresh wave of tensions erupted between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government following a rocket attack targeting a Syrian Army military position in the village of al-Kiyariya, in the Mabbug (Manbij) countryside, on the evening of Saturday, August 2, 2025. 

The assault injured four soldiers and three civilians, according to a statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Defense. While no party has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, the Syrian Ministry of Defense promptly accused the SDF of orchestrating the strike. The ministry stated that its forces conducted “precise retaliatory strikes targeting the sources of fire used by SDF forces,” according to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).  

The ministry further noted that a rocket launcher and a field artillery piece, detected in the vicinity of Maskana, east of Holep (Aleppo) Governorate, were used in the attack. However, the SDF issued a swift and resolute rebuttal.  

In a statement released on August 3, 2025, the SDF categorically denied the accusations, labelling them as “baseless claims.” The group asserted that the escalation was initiated by “unruly factions” within the Syrian Army, which had carried out artillery shelling targeting civilian-populated areas in Deir Hafer with more than ten shells. 

The SDF emphasized that its forces had exercised “maximum restraint” but were compelled to respond within the bounds of “legitimate self-defense.” The statement further highlighted ongoing trench-digging and the movement of armed groups by these unruly factions, signaling their intent to escalate militarily.  

The SDF accused the Syrian Ministry of Defense of attempting to “distort the truth and mislead public opinion,” arguing that such actions undermine security and stability.  

It called on the Syrian government to honor the declared truce and rein in the “uncontrolled military groups” operating under its banner.  

Worth to note that this latest incident threatens to unravel the agreement signed between SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on March 10, 2025. Despite the passage of months, the agreement’s provisions remain unimplemented, with persistent disputes between the two sides, particularly regarding the mechanism for integration. While the SDF insists on retaining its organizational structure and integrating as a unified military entity, Daramsuq (Damascus) demands the incorporation of SDF fighters as individuals into the Syrian Army—a move the SDF views as a threat to its autonomy and role in North and East Syria. 

The attack and the ensuing media exchanges underscore the fragility of the understandings between the two parties, raising serious questions about the future of their relationship at a critical political juncture for Syria. 

Amid this escalation, concerns persist that the situation on the ground, particularly in the Mabbug (Manbij) and Deir Hafer countrysides, could deteriorate further, potentially plunging the country into a new cycle of armed conflict at a time meant for internal reconciliation after years of war.  

With no clear mechanism in place to implement the integration agreement, the gap between the two sides appears to be widening, fueled by conflicting demands and mutual distrust. As a result, the likelihood of the agreement coming to fruition remains tenuous, increasing the risk that it may ultimately be consigned to the long-standing pattern of failed or stalled initiatives in Syria.