Türkiye, Syrian National Army target Democratic Forces’ positions along Euphrates ISW report / VIDEO

Türkiye and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) may be attempting to stretch the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)’s bandwidth by threatening multiple areas simultaneously. 

Türkiye and the SNA continued shelling SDF positions along both the line of control and deeper into SDF-held territory on January 13, Caliber.Az reports via the report of the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The SNA has also reportedly deployed forces to the line of control near Tal Tamr since at least January 8. These deployments and the shelling around Tal Tamr will almost certainly force the SDF to deploy forces to the area to protect against any possible Turkish-SNA offensive, thus fixing significant SDF forces far from the main fighting near the Euphrates. 

Turkish military aircraft have destroyed 21 tunnels along the Ain Al-Arab axis in the last 24 hours

Türkiye and the SNA can therefore force the SDF to stretch its bandwidth by allocating forces to Tal Tamr without an attack from Tal Tamr. Stretching the SDF’s bandwidth would likely make Turkish or SNA operations near Kobani or the Euphrates River much easier.      

Türkiye has continued to support SNA efforts to isolate and destroy SDF elements along the Euphrates River. Türkiye and the SNA are attempting to isolate the SDF forces in their bridgeheads on the western bank of the Euphrates by striking along supply lines and key nodes behind the front while pressuring the SDF bridgeheads with ground attacks. 

Local, anti-SDF media reported that Türkiye struck an SDF barracks and two guard posts in Sarrin, east of the Qara Qozak bridge. The SDF operates from a base in Sarrin that Russian forces evacuated after the fall of the regime, meaning that Türkiye is striking an SDF rear base that could be used to sustain the bridgeheads. Türkiye also reportedly conducted several airstrikes targeting SDF positions west of the Tishreen Dam.  The SNA has followed up these airstrikes by pressuring the SDF bridgehead on the western bank of the Euphrates.

Neither the SDF nor SNA appears to have made any significant territorial gains as of this writing, but the pressure that the SNA has put these bridgeheads under will make it difficult for the SDF to disengage and withdraw in good order if the SNA or Türkiye forces the SDF to contend with a threat to its rear. Withdrawing a military force while under enemy pressure is an extremely difficult undertaking, particularly when the withdrawing force comes under pressure from a large military force. The enemy force—if it discovers a withdrawal is underway—will typically attempt to turn the withdrawal into a rout to destroy the withdrawing force.

🚨Suriye Milli Ordusu Süleyman Şah Tugayı, Tişrin Barajı ekseninde yaşanan çatışmalar neticesinde Medcazin köyünü PKK/YPG terör örgütünden ele geçirdi.

pic.twitter.com/gKko0CJdQQ

— Conflict (@ConflictTR) January 13, 2025

Geolocated footage posted by the commander of the Suleiman Shah Brigades—a faction affiliated with the SNA—on January 13 showed SNA armored vehicles traveling through a village northwest of Tishreen Dam.

Kuvvetlerimizin Özgürlük Şafağı Operasyon Odası kapsamında Tişrrin Barajı güzergahında terör örgütü PKK/YPG’ye yönelik yürüttüğü operasyonlardan görüntüler. pic.twitter.com/O6lBYkKWWr

— Sultan Murat Tümeni (1.Tümen) (@STumeni) January 13, 2025

The SNA may seek to move more forces to the frontline in order to continue pressuring the SDF positions or prepare for a large-scale assault to collapse the bridgehead. 

Key Takeaways:

Türkiye and the SNA may be attempting to stretch the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)’s bandwidth by threatening multiple areas simultaneously. Türkiye has continued to support SNA efforts to isolate and destroy SDF elements along the Euphrates River. 

The pressure that the SNA has put these bridgeheads under will make it difficult for the SDF to disengage and withdraw in good order if the SNA or Türkiye forces the SDF to contend with a threat to their rear. 

Withdrawing a military force while under enemy pressure is an extremely difficult undertaking, particularly when the withdrawing force comes under pressure from a large military force.

By Naila Huseynova