Syria accuses SDF of deadly ceasefire violations hours after truce deal

The Syrian Arab Army has reported significant casualties from what it describes as ceasefire violations by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by the YPG militia, mere hours after a temporary truce began. The attacks in northeastern Syria on Wednesday resulted in 11 soldiers killed and more than 25 wounded, casting immediate doubt on the durability of the nascent agreement.

A series of coordinated attacks across two provinces

According to statements from Syria's Defense Ministry carried by state media, the violations involved multiple coordinated assaults. The deadliest incident occurred near the al-Yarubiyah border crossing in Hasakah province, where a suicide drone strike on an ammunition site killed seven soldiers and injured twenty. In eastern Aleppo, drone strikes and heavy gunfire near the town of Sarrin killed two more troops. Further south in Hasakah, a two-hour clash involving SDF armored vehicles near Mount Abdul Aziz resulted in two additional Syrian soldier fatalities and the destruction of a tank.

Discovery of a weapons workshop escalates tensions

The Syrian army claims the initial attack in al-Yarubiyah was triggered by the discovery of a hidden workshop used for manufacturing improvised explosive devices and arming drones. The ministry stated the facility contained several Iranian-made drones that the SDF was preparing to use. While troops were securing the site, it was targeted by the aforementioned suicide drone. This narrative frames the SDF actions as a premeditated escalation following the exposure of a covert military facility.

Ceasefire context and regional implications

These violent incidents erupted within 20 hours of a four-day ceasefire, which took effect at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The truce was announced following a reported "mutal understanding" between Damascus and the SDF regarding the future of Hasakah province. The swift collapse of the ceasefire highlights the deep mistrust and complex battlefield dynamics in northeastern Syria, a region where Türkiye, a key regional actor, has long identified the YPG as a primary national security threat linked to terrorism. The developments underscore the challenges in achieving any lasting stability in the area.