U.S. officials announced the extension of a cease-fire in Manbij, a city marked by clashes between Kurdish and Turkish-backed factions, amidst efforts for a sustainable peace.
**Cease-Fire Extended Amidst Conflict in Northern Syria's Manbij**
**Cease-Fire Extended Amidst Conflict in Northern Syria's Manbij**
A fragile truce holds as foreign officials attempt to negotiate peace in a divided region.
A recent cease-fire in Manbij, a strategic city in northern Syria, has been extended for a few more days, providing a brief reprieve from ongoing tensions between Kurdish and Turkish-backed fighters. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the truce on December 18, 2024, stating that it will continue “into the end of this week.” While no specific conclusion date was provided, Miller expressed that escalating conflict is not in the interest of any involved parties and emphasized the dedication to work towards decreasing tensions.
Manbij has been a significant battleground in the Syrian civil war, and its control is highly contested. The region saw the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), which claimed control of Manbij in 2014 as part of its effort to establish a caliphate across Syria and Iraq. With U.S. support, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces liberated the city from ISIS in 2016, but the aftermath has seen continued strife among local factions.
As international mediators navigate the complex landscape of Syrian politics, the extent to which lasting peace can be achieved remains uncertain, particularly in regions like Manbij that carry historical and strategic importance for various combatant groups.
