Operation Dawn of Freedom

Operation Dawn of Freedom
Part of the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives and the Rojava conflict during the Syrian civil war
Advances before 8 December Advances after 8 December Map of the offensive in Syria   Controlled by the Syrian opposition   Controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces
Date 30 November 2024 – 12 December 2024 (1 week and 5 days) Location Aleppo Governorate, Syria Result SNA victory[2] Temporary US-mediated truce between SDF and SNA[3] Territorial changes SNA capture Tadef,[4] As-Safira, Tell Rifaat,[5] Manbij[6] and numerous other villages, as well as the Kuweires airbase and Menagh airbase[7] SNA cut the territorial corridor between SDF-controlled Tell Rifaat and Manbij[8] SDF withdraws from Manbij[6] SDF launches the East Aleppo offensive (2024–present)
Belligerents
Syrian Interim Government  Turkey (since 8 December)[1]	Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Syrian Arab Republic  (until 8 December)  Russia
Units involved
Syrian National Army Dawn of Freedom Operations Room[9] Sultan Murad Division[10] Liberation and Construction Movement[11] Levant Front[12] Jaysh al-Islam[12] Joint Forces[12] Sultan Suleiman Shah Division[11][12] Hamza Division[12] Turkish Armed Forces Turkish Air Force	Syrian Democratic Forces[13] People's Protection Units[14] Manbij Military Council[15] Tabqa Military Council[16] Sireen Military Council[17] Asayish[6] Self-Defense Forces[18] Syrian Arab Armed Forces   Syrian Army   Russian Armed Forces  Russian Aerospace Forces  Russian Air Force[19]
Casualties and losses
34 killed[a] 222 killed[b] (SDF claim) 14 captured (SDF claim)[24] 42 vehicles destroyed (SDF claim)[24][23] 6 tanks destroyed (SDF claim)[23]	41 killed[c] 3 injured[18] 53 killed[27] 33 captured (Turkish claim)[28] 14 Aero L-39 Albatros captured[27]
13 killed[29][30] 11 SDF/civilians executed by the SNA[31] Unknown number of civilians held captive[31] Several injured[29]

Operation Dawn of Freedom^[d] refers to a military offensive launched by the Syrian National Army (SNA; a Turkish-backed coalition of forces) against the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (SAAF) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), targeting the northern Aleppo Governorate region between al-Bab and Tadef within the Operation Euphrates Shield zone.

Following the initiation of the 2024

Operation Dawn of Freedom is unlikely to have occurred without approval from Turkey.[33] It was linked to Turkish demands for a "Safe Zone" in Syria.^[34]

Following intense clashes between SNA forces and those loyal to the Assad government in northern

On the evening of 1 December 2024, the SNA launched an offensive on the SDF-held town of Tell Rifaat, capturing the town along with several surrounding villages, including Shwargha,

On 2 December 2024, the SDF announced plans to evacuate Kurdish IDPs from Tel Rifaat and the Shahba region to SDF-held areas in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood district and northeastern Syria.^[36][37]

On 4 December 2024, SDF reported clashes in Dayr Hafir and in the southern Manbij region and confirmed casualties among the SNA.^[38]

On 6 December 2024, Dawn of Freedom operations room