Opposition Fighters Take North Syria Town from SDF, Turkish Source Says

 People gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Manbij, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Ugur Yildirim/Dia Photo via AP)
People gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Manbij, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Ugur Yildirim/Dia Photo via AP)
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Opposition Fighters Take North Syria Town from SDF, Turkish Source Says

 People gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Manbij, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Ugur Yildirim/Dia Photo via AP)
People gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian government, in Manbij, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Ugur Yildirim/Dia Photo via AP)

Türkiye-backed Syrian opposition groups took control of the northern Syrian town of Manbij from US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces (SDF), a Turkish security source said on Monday, a day after the opposition declared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

The SDF had been holding the town in recent days amid intense fighting with the Syrian National Army (SNA) and other Türkiye-backed groups.

Clashes in the north continued even as the world was caught surprised by the opposition's swift successes in initially seizing Aleppo and, on Sunday, the capital Damascus in the south.

The lightening offensive took less than two weeks, after a 13-year war.

A video, verified by Reuters, showed opposition forces being welcomed by people in Manbij, which is some 30 km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border and west of the Euphrates river.

Turkish state-owned Anadolu news agency reported the area is being searched for possible landmines and traps left behind by the Kurdish group.

The SDF is the main ally in a US coalition against ISIS militants. Türkiye says it is spearheaded by a terrorist group closely tied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.

Abdurrahman Mustafa, head of the Türkiye-backed opposition's provisional government, congratulated the troops that took Manbij.

"We stand with pride and honor with our heroic forces, and we support them to complete the liberation of every inch of our land and achieve the aspirations of our people for freedom and dignity," Mustafa said in a post on X.

The United States said it will maintain its presence in eastern Syria, where the SDF is concentrated, and will take necessary steps to prevent a resurgence of ISIS. The United States is estimated to have 900 troops in eastern Syria as a hedge against ISIS militants.

Separately, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said US strikes in Syria in recent days were focused on ISIS cells to hinder them from taking advantage of fallout from the uprising.



Aoun Says Hezbollah Has Shown ‘Flexibility’ in Discussing its Weapons

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with members of the National Moderation bloc at the Presidential Palace (Lebanese Presidency).
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with members of the National Moderation bloc at the Presidential Palace (Lebanese Presidency).
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Aoun Says Hezbollah Has Shown ‘Flexibility’ in Discussing its Weapons

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with members of the National Moderation bloc at the Presidential Palace (Lebanese Presidency).
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with members of the National Moderation bloc at the Presidential Palace (Lebanese Presidency).

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Hezbollah has demonstrated significant “flexibility and willingness to cooperate” in addressing the issue of its weapons under a certain timetable.

Aoun’s statement on Thursday came in the wake of US envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit and increased American pressure to ensure that all weapons on Lebanese territory are under the control of legitimate state authorities.

Following a meeting between the National Moderation Bloc and Aoun at Baabda Palace, MP Sajih Attieh stated that the discussion touched on the disarmament of Hezbollah.

He emphasized that the president is handling the matter with great wisdom and confirmed Hezbollah’s openness to a phased and cooperative approach.

Aoun expressed optimism, suggesting that the party’s positive stance should be met with understanding and a realistic outlook, given the current situation in the country.

Earlier, Asharq Al-Awsat reported exclusively that Aoun, in coordination with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, would lead direct talks with Hezbollah. These talks would explore not only the transfer of arms to state control but also strategies to integrate Hezbollah’s military assets and address its political concerns.

This week, media reports citing unnamed Hezbollah sources claimed the group was willing to hand over its heavy weapons north of the Litani River - including drones, missiles, and anti-tank systems - if Israel withdraws from occupied Lebanese territories.

However, Hezbollah later issued a statement denying the reports and asserting that only official spokespeople represent the party’s position.

Resolution 1701 as a Benchmark

Hezbollah has not officially engaged in disarmament talks but frames the weapons discussion within the context of “defense and national protection.” Its lawmakers have expressed conditional openness to negotiations - only after full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory and an end to violations of the ceasefire.

MP Raed Berro told local station LBCI that any future conversation about the group’s arms must occur within the framework of a national defense strategy and broader strategic security goals.

In a press conference held at the Lebanese Parliament on Thursday, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah reiterated that the Lebanese government is responsible for taking formal steps to end Israeli aggression and upholding the national policy statement. He insisted that stopping Israel’s violations of Lebanese sovereignty should be a priority for the government.

Fadlallah urged a “serious national dialogue” focused on addressing the Israeli threat and achieving a collective defense strategy.

He accused the Israeli army of committing war crimes against unarmed civilians, actions he claimed occurred under the watch of the United Nations and the ceasefire monitoring committee.

He also denied claims about arms smuggling through the Port of Beirut, calling such allegations unfounded.