Manbij forces repel Turkish-backed attack near Syria's Tishrin dam
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The Tishrin Dam, a critical infrastructure site, is of strategic significance in the region, making it a focal point in the broader power struggle in northern Syria.
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US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand guard at Al Naeem Square, in Raqqa, Syria, on Monday, February 7, 2022. (AP)
The Manbij Military Council announced on Monday that its forces had successfully repelled an attack by Turkish-backed militants near the Tishrin Dam in Manbij, located in Aleppo Governorate.
The council's Media Center released a statement detailing the operation, stressing the strategic importance of the area and the steps taken to secure it following the attack.
According to the statement, the council’s forces managed to regain control over several positions that had been utilized by the militants during the assault. In addition, a military vehicle belonging to the Turkish-backed factions was destroyed on the western bank of the Euphrates River.
The council reported conducting extensive sweeping operations in the vicinity to ensure the safety and stability of the area.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in northern Syria, where Turkish-backed groups frequently clash with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their affiliates.
The SDF, a key ally of the Manbij Military Council, recently reported the deaths of 52 members of Turkish-backed factions in fierce battles near the Tishrin Dam.
Read more: Turkiye warns of disaster at Syria's Tishreen Dam amid intense clashes
The Tishrin Dam, a critical infrastructure site, is of strategic significance in the region, making it a focal point in the broader power struggle in northern Syria.
The dam not only provides electricity to surrounding areas but also serves as a critical water resource, making it a target in the ongoing hostilities.
On the verge of collapse
Earlier this month, the administration of the Tishreen Dam issued a stark warning to the Iraqi government, cautioning that the dam is under "continuous shelling, putting it on the verge of collapse."
The administration emphasized that this situation represents "an imminent catastrophe that transcends Syrian borders to directly threaten Iraq."
A source told Al Mayadeen at the time that any significant damage to the Tishreen Dam, located southeast of Manbij, could lead to its submersion. This would result in a massive flow of its reservoir waters toward Syrian and Iraqi cities along the Euphrates River, raising fears of potential humanitarian disasters.
