Syria’s government has accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of launching attacks that resulted in the deaths of 11 soldiers on Wednesday. However, the SDF refuted some of the claims made by the government, asserting that at least one fatal explosion was caused by Syrian troops relocating explosives.
These incidents have the potential to disrupt a recently declared four-day ceasefire following intense clashes in northeast Syria, where Damascus has been urging the SDF to agree to a plan for merging into the central state.
According to Syria’s government, seven soldiers were killed in a drone strike by the SDF while they were securing a captured military base containing explosives, which was labeled as a dangerous escalation. The SDF, on the other hand, denied carrying out any such attack.
The SDF, previously a key ally of the U.S. in Syria, claimed that the explosion occurred when Syrian soldiers were in the process of moving explosives, and accused the Syrian army of breaching the ceasefire by launching attacks in multiple locations.
On the same day, Damascus reported that a total of 11 soldiers had been killed and 25 wounded in SDF assaults on army positions following the ceasefire announcement. The SDF did not provide a specific response to this broader accusation.
In recent developments, the government’s advancement against the SDF has raised concerns about the potential loss of Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria, impacting relations with the United States and Turkey, as well as the future of detained Islamist militants.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, insisted that the SDF, which Turkey views as a terrorist organization, must disarm and disband immediately to prevent further violence.
The U.S., which previously supported the SDF as its primary partner in combating Islamic State militants in Syria, did not intervene in the offensive and encouraged the group to consider the government’s proposal. The U.S. clarified that its collaboration with the SDF had ended, but expressed concerns about the fate of detained Islamic State fighters and associated civilians guarded by the SDF.
In a separate operation, the U.S. military announced it had initiated a mission in Syria to transfer Islamic State prisoners to Iraq.
The SDF confirmed its acceptance of the ceasefire and pledged not to engage in military actions unless provoked. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi emphasized the importance of safeguarding Kurdish-majority regions as a top priority.
Situated between the Turkish and Iraqi borders, northeast Syria comprises areas with Arab and Kurdish majorities and hosts the majority of Syria’s energy resources.
As of Wednesday, Syrian forces maintained positions outside the last major Kurdish-held cities in the northeast, namely Hasakah and Qamishli. Reporters noted significant reinforcements, including tanks, military vehicles, and fighters arriving in convoys the night before. The troops halted their advance following Sharaa’s ceasefire announcement and awaited the SDF’s response to determine their next steps.
The strategic landscape in Syria has undergone significant changes over the past year, particularly since rebels led by former al-Qaeda commander Sharaa ousted Iran-backed President Bashar al-Assad in a swift advance. The SDF, which previously clashed with Sharaa’s rebels during the civil war, governed a quarter of Syria autonomously from Damascus.
The U.S. maintained a limited military presence in the region, supporting the SDF against attacks from Assad and his allies. However, Sharaa has fostered strong ties with Washington, altering the U.S.’s relationship with Damascus.
Turkey, viewing the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) responsible for a prolonged insurgency within Turkey, deployed troops in northern Syria to back rebel factions. Ankara is currently in peace talks with the PKK and sees the end of SDF control in Syria as crucial to this process.
President Erdogan, addressing parliament, welcomed the ceasefire in Syria and expressed optimism that the SDF’s integration into the Syrian state would usher in a new era for the country. Erdogan and President Trump discussed the situation in Syria during a recent phone call, focusing on the status of prisoners in Syrian detention facilities and the ongoing fight against Islamic State.