Car bombing northern Syrian city of Manbij kills 15, PKK/YPG suspected

A car bomb exploded near the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Monday, killing 15 people, mostly female farm workers, and injuring 15 others, according to state news agency SANA.

The attack took place in an area where Kurdish-led terror forces are engaged in frequent clashes.

Citing White Helmet rescuers, SANA reported a “massacre” on a local road, stating that a bomb detonated near a vehicle carrying agricultural workers. 14 women and one man were killed, while 15 other women were wounded, some critically.

The explosion occurred at the southern entrance of Manbij, a region cleared of PKK/YPG militants as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, local security forces claiming the possibility of PKK/YPG involvement.

Manbij was recaptured from PKK/YPG militant control on December 9, 2024, by the Syrian National Army (SMO) during the same military operation. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as some of the wounded remain in critical condition.