A car bomb killed 15 agricultural workers in northern Syria on Monday, according to the country’s civil defense force, as ongoing violence threatens to undermine the new government’s efforts for stability.
The explosion occurred in the city of Manbij, approximately 20 miles from the Turkish border, with no immediate claims of responsibility. Manbij has been a hotspot for violence between armed groups, one supported by the United States and the other by Turkey. This blast marks one of the deadliest attacks since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Turkish-backed fighters took control of the city in December from Kurdish-led forces, who are backed by the United States. Since then, there has been an increase in car bombings, as reported by the White Helmets, the Syrian civil defense force.
The agricultural workers were being transported in the back of a truck when the car bomb detonated alongside them on the outskirts of the city, located about 55 miles northeast of Aleppo, according to a statement from the White Helmets.
Most of the deceased were women, and at least 15 others were wounded, with the death toll expected to rise, the force indicated.
Footage from the scene depicted the charred and mangled remains of a vehicle, with the truck carrying the workers damaged by shrapnel.
This ongoing violence highlights the difficulties faced by Syria’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, who is at a critical juncture in the country’s history.
Appointed last week, al-Shara has committed to forming an inclusive transitional government. The new authorities have announced the dissolution of all armed factions within the rebel coalition that previously overthrew Assad, the long-time dictator.
However, it remains uncertain whether armed groups, particularly the Kurdish-led forces controlling most of northeastern Syria, will comply with this mandate to disarm.
Experts indicate that unifying Syria’s complex array of armed groups under a single umbrella is one of the most pressing challenges facing the new government.