ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday accused groups affiliated with Damascus of attacking the strategic Tishreen Dam, in northern Syria.
"Since this morning, the armed groups affiliated with Damascus Government are systematically targeting the Dam of Tishreen and all the area around with heavy weapons including tanks, canons and field guns," the SDF said in a statement.
The SDF added that "projectiles have directly clashed with the body of the dam in addition to the villages around and the worker residencies that causes a critical threat to the lives of the civilians and a disastrous threat to the infrastructure."
"We hold the Damascus government fully responsible for these violations and their dire consequences. We affirm the right of legitimate defense to defend our people and forces against any threats and attacks," the statement read.
State-owned Syrian News Channel, however, dismissed the accussations, claiming the Kurdish-led force shelled the government forces with "artillery and suicide drones."
Tensions between the SDF and Damascus continue to escalate, amid difficulties in implementing a landmark March agreement. The two sides are at odds over the interpretation of the term integration. While the SDF seeks to join the Syrian forces as a unified bloc, Damascus prefers to individually absorb and assimilate Kurdish fighters into the national army.
The dam, located southeast of Manbij city on the Euphrates River, was constructed in 1999 and is one of Syria’s largest in terms of production and capacity. It generates electricity and once provided power to much of the Kurdish-held northeast Syria (Rojava).
But Turkey and the Syrian militia groups it supports have launched sporadic attacks on the structure since November, seeking to control the dam for easier access into other areas held by the SDF.
The strategic district of Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo has in recent days witnessed on-and-off confrontations and military buildup involving Damascus-affiliated factions and the SDF
Damascus-aligned factions have intensified efforts to seize the district, as it would enable them to open a logistical corridor to Raqqa province in north-central Syria. It would also allow them to put military pressure on the SDF in other regions crucial for the Kurdish forces’ operations, including Tishreen Dam and Qere Qozaq bridge, both on the Euphrates River.
