A car bomb exploded on Monday night in Manbij, northern Syria, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more. Officials confirmed the blast marked the deadliest attack in Syria. Bashar al-Assad fell in December last year.
The explosion struck an area already destabilized by ongoing clashes between Turkish-backed forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned the attack, vowing swift justice for the victims and promising severe punishment for the perpetrators.
Hospital workers reported that the bomb detonated near a vehicle carrying agricultural workers, killing at least 11 women and three children. The White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group, described the attack as horrific that shattered families and took innocent lives.
Authorities have not identified the group behind the attack, but tension continues to escalate in the area. The SDF, which lost control of Manbij in December, suggested that Turkish-backed forces might be responsible, though it provided no direct evidence.
On Saturday, another car bomb exploded in the city, killing four people and injuring nine others, adding to the growing fear of instability. Activist Jameel al-Sayyed noted that residents had started installing security cameras and forming patrols to prevent further violence.
Throughout Syria’s war, control over Manbij has shifted multiple times due to its strategic position near the Turkish border. Manbij car bombing, raising concerns that extremist groups could exploit ongoing conflicts between regional forces.
