Ancient Roman mosaics discovered in conflict-torn Manbij amid regional tensions

In Manbij, a northern Syrian city fraught with military conflict, five mosaics from the Roman era, dating back to 62 BC, have been discovered. This finding emerges just a week following Turkish airstrikes that devastated the ancient Ain Dara archaeological site, located 85 miles west of Manbij, erasing its iconic carved basalt lions and winged sphinxes. Manbij is a strategic base for U.S. military forces aiding local Kurdish and Arab fighters in their battle against the Islamic State. Turkey views the city as a target in its efforts against Syrian Kurds, particularly the Yekineyen Parastina Gel (YPG) and its political ally, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara links to the outlawed PKK. The YPG has denied any connection to Turkey's internal issues. This archaeological discovery is especially significant given the escalating tensions between NATO allies Turkey and the United States. The Aso News Network reported on the mosaics, which are from the Roman pagan period.