Manbij car bomb attack suspends SDF-Damascus talks

According to Middle East Eye, a deadly car bomb attack near Manbij in northern Syria has led to the suspension of negotiations between the Damascus interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Two sources familiar with the matter revealed this information, but it remains unclear whether the negotiations are suspended indefinitely or temporarily interrupted. The suspension highlights the fragile security situation in the region.

The attack, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, mostly women working in agricultural fields. Since December of last year, there have been seven car bomb attacks in and around Manbij, but no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for any of them. The Syrian Presidential Palace stated that it would not hesitate to pursue and punish those involved in the attack, reflecting the government's determination to maintain order.

The Syrian Presidential Palace said in a statement: "We will inflict the harshest punishment on anyone who dares to tamper with Syria's security or harm its people, as a warning to others. This crime will not go unpunished." The attack has sparked strong protests on social media, with many Syrians calling for an end to negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces. The public outcry underscores the deep divisions and mistrust within Syrian society.

The new interim government, led by former rebel leader Ahmad Shala, has been negotiating with the Syrian Democratic Forces in an effort to resolve their differences on the future of the country. The leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces hope to establish a model that ensures the autonomy of the Kurdish authorities in the northeast and want to keep their armed forces as a separate unit under the Syrian Ministry of Defense. However, Shala and his new government in Damascus are only willing to integrate Syrian Democratic Forces officers and troops individually into the national army to build cohesion within the ranks, and they firmly oppose any federal system. These conflicting visions pose a significant challenge to reaching a lasting agreement.

Negotiations have been slow due to the inability of the two sides to agree on key details. The political branch of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, did not attend the Damascus military meeting that announced Shala's appointment as president, calling the event "illegal." Shala previously told The Economist that he was not optimistic about negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces. A source told Middle East Eye that Damascus had warned the Syrian Democratic Forces not to wage war in civilian areas, but the group did not appear to heed the warning, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation.