Seven civilians, including five women and two children, lost their lives on Saturday due to bombardments by Syrian government forces in northern Syria, specifically in the village of Umm Tina, located in the Deir Hafer region of Aleppo province. This tragic incident occurred amid intense clashes between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in the UK, reported that the attacks were carried out by personnel from the Syrian army. The Deir Hafer area has become a significant battleground, as it lies along the front lines separating the Syrian military from the SDF. Ongoing clashes in this region have heightened tensions, with the latest incidents marking the worst civilian death toll in northern Syria in recent months.
Prior to the attack, there were reports of “armed clashes involving drones and heavy weapons” as the Syrian army targeted SDF military positions. The SDF, which has received backing from a Washington-led coalition, played a critical role in the defeat of the Islamic State group, reclaiming significant territory from the jihadists by 2019.
In a statement issued after the violence, the SDF accused “pro-Turkey factions affiliated with the Damascus government” of deliberately targeting civilian homes through drone strikes and artillery shelling, confirming a death toll of seven civilians, including the aforementioned two children.
Political discussions surrounding the integration of the Kurdish administration into the central government, which began after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year, have faced setbacks. Despite an agreement reached earlier this year between the new authorities and the SDF, there have been noticeable delays in implementation, primarily due to disputes over governance structures. The Kurds have pushed for decentralization, a request that the Damascus government has so far rejected.
Recent remarks from Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa indicated that while negotiations with the SDF were progressing, complications had arisen that slowed down the deal’s execution. He expressed a commitment to ensuring peace in northeast Syria, stating his efforts were focused on preventing further conflict in the area.
