The Syrian National Army (SNA) has captured Minnigh Airbase in Tel Rifaat during Operation Dawn. This operation aims to stop the PKK/YPG from creating a corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria.
A Key Victory for Syrian National Army
Minnigh Airbase is just 13 kilometers (8.07 miles) from the Turkish border. The PKK/YPG controlled it since 2016, with Russian and Iranian forces using it as a military supply hub. Reclaiming the base is a crucial win for the SNA, weakening the PKK/YPG in northern Syria and disrupting their plans.
Goals and Achievements of Operation Dawn
Operation Dawn was launched to block the PKK/YPG’s corridor plans. Its main focus is cutting routes like the Raqqa-Aleppo road, stopping the group’s movements. The SNA continues fighting the PKK/YPG on multiple fronts in Tel Rifaat, including the northwest, northeast, and southern areas.
Tel Rifaat: A History of Conflict
In 2016, the PKK/YPG seized Tel Rifaat, displacing 250,000 civilians. Many fled to areas near Türkiye. From Tel Rifaat, the group attacked areas freed during Türkiye’s earlier operations, targeting Turkish forces and civilians. With recent advances in Aleppo, the PKK/YPG’s hold on Tel Rifaat has weakened.
Syrian Opposition’s Message to Regime Soldiers
In a notable development, the Syrian opposition has extended an invitation to Assad regime soldiers and officers, urging them to defect. The opposition guarantees their safety if they choose to surrender their arms and relocate to liberated areas in northern Syria. A statement from the Department of Military Operations reads:
“To the officers serving in the armed forces of the criminal regime across all occupied Syrian cities, we are fully prepared to secure your safe defection and relocation to our territories.”
The message concludes with a call for regime personnel to defect as an act of sovereignty and self-preservation.
