A car bomb exploded outside a city in northern Syria, killing at least 19 people and injuring over a dozen. The majority of the victims were women, with 18 killed and 15 more wounded.
The blast occurred near a vehicle carrying agricultural workers in Manbij, Syria’s second city. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the seventh car bombing in Manbij in recent weeks.
Turkish-backed factions have clashed with US-backed Kurdish forces in the area, taking control of the city from them in early December. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) condemned the attack and accused Ankara-backed groups of being involved in the incident.
Syria’s presidency has vowed to investigate the attack and said those responsible will face severe penalties. Residents have become more vigilant due to the recent surge in attacks, with some setting up surveillance cameras to protect their neighborhoods.
The attacks are part of a broader conflict in northern Syria, which has seen violence continue two months after President Bashar Assad’s fall from power.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-manbij-bombing-assad-c75d54d0361f6a474b69c6d813eb5c70