BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec 28, 2024 (V7N) — A car bomb exploded late Friday near the grand mosque in Manbij, a contested town in northern Syria, causing significant damage but no reported casualties, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based war monitor, which relies on extensive on-the-ground sources, reported that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast marks the second such incident in Manbij this week, following a deadly car bombing on Tuesday that claimed two lives.

Manbij, long controlled by Kurdish-led forces, recently fell into the hands of pro-Turkey armed factions after an offensive earlier this month. This shift has exacerbated tensions in the region, with incidents of violence becoming more frequent.

The White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group operating in opposition-held areas, confirmed the explosion, describing it as a significant event that caused material damage but resulted in no immediate human casualties.

Manbij is a key flashpoint in the conflict in northern Syria. It was once a stronghold for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition that played a pivotal role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) group in 2019. However, Turkey’s accusations linking the SDF’s main faction, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a group both Turkey and the U.S. designate as terrorists—have fueled Ankara’s repeated military incursions in the region.

Since 2016, Turkish-backed groups have launched multiple operations targeting SDF-controlled areas. In recent weeks, these forces have seized several Kurdish-held towns in northern Syria, intensifying clashes and destabilizing the region further.

Friday’s bombing adds to growing concerns over the security of Manbij under its new pro-Turkey rulers. The Syrian Observatory noted the increase in attacks since the town’s capture, reflecting broader unrest in territories contested by Kurdish-led forces and Turkey-backed militias.

The Observatory also warned that such attacks could escalate, undermining stability in a region already struggling with the aftermath of years of conflict and shifting control among various factions.

As northern Syria continues to endure violence and power struggles, incidents like the Manbij car bombings underscore the persistent challenges in securing peace and stability in the region.

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