The suicide attack that killed several US service members and civilians in Manbij today may strengthen Turkey’s hand against Syrian Kurdish groups that it sees as a threat. Ankara has been arguing the US-backed Kurds are unwilling or unable to maintain stability and security in the areas they control in Syria, and is eager to replace them with its own proxies.
Why it matters: The presence of groups affiliated with the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Manbij had been a major point of contention between Washington and Ankara until Trump’s decision last month to pull out US troops. Now Ankara is widely seen as waiting for US forces to leave the area before it launches a military operation to take the city.