Syrian army says SDF breached truce with over 25 suicide drone attacks

The Syrian military has reported a significant breach of a ceasefire agreement, alleging that forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a large-scale drone assault on army positions in northern Syria on Sunday. The attack, which reportedly involved over 25 explosive drones, caused military losses and civilian casualties, prompting Damascus to threaten a military response.

Coordinated drone strikes on military and civilian targets

According to a statement from the Syrian Army's Operations Command carried by state media, the attacks targeted army deployment sites around the Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) area in the Aleppo countryside. The military said the assailants used more than 25 FPV-type "suicide drones," resulting in the destruction of four army vehicles. The statement further claimed that the SDF extended its targeting to the strategic M4 highway and nearby villages, wounding a number of civilians in the process. No immediate comment was available from the SDF.

Ceasefire extension followed by immediate violation

The drone offensive occurred under particularly provocative circumstances. Just one day earlier, on Saturday, the Syrian government had announced a 15-day extension of a ceasefire with the SDF. This extension followed the expiration of an initial four-day truce that had been brokered to facilitate negotiations and a potential handover of territory. The rapid resumption of hostilities, especially with such a coordinated drone attack, casts serious doubt on the viability of the ceasefire and the SDF's commitment to the negotiated process.

Damascus weighs its response options

The Syrian military stated it is currently "assessing the field situation and reviewing its response options." In a clear warning, the Operations Command declared, "The Syrian Army is considering its operational choices in response to the targeting of civilians and its deployment positions and will take the necessary measures." This indicates that a renewed Syrian offensive against SDF-held areas in northeastern Syria is a strong possibility. The situation is of paramount concern to Türkiye, which designates the dominant faction within the SDF—the YPG—as a terrorist organization and views any consolidation of its power or military capability near the Turkish border as a direct national security threat.