Syria’s government has accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group, of being responsible for attacks that resulted in the deaths of 11 soldiers on Wednesday. However, the SDF has refuted key parts of the government’s claims, asserting that at least one fatal explosion was due to Syrian troops moving explosives.
These incidents have jeopardized a four-day ceasefire that was declared on Tuesday following ongoing clashes in northeast Syria. The Syrian government alleged that a drone strike by the SDF took the lives of seven soldiers while they were securing a military base containing explosives, describing the incident as a dangerous escalation. In contrast, the SDF denied carrying out any such attack.
The SDF, previously a significant U.S. ally in Syria, contended that the explosion occurred during the movement of explosives by Syrian soldiers and accused the Syrian army of violating the ceasefire by launching attacks at various locations.
Later on Wednesday, Damascus reported that a total of 11 soldiers had been killed and 25 wounded in attacks on army positions by the SDF on the first day after the ceasefire announcement. The SDF did not provide a response to this broader accusation.
Amidst rapid advancements against the SDF, the Syrian government announced reaching an agreement with the Kurdish group for a four-day ceasefire, aiming for their integration into the central state. This move was coupled with a warning that failure to comply would lead to an assault on the two main cities still under SDF control.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, called for the immediate disarmament and dissolution of the SDF, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, to prevent further violence. The United States, which previously supported the SDF in combatting Islamic State militants in Syria, did not obstruct the recent offensive and encouraged the group to accept the government’s terms.
The U.S. clarified that its partnership with the SDF had concluded, but it remained concerned about the fate of numerous detained Islamic State members and associated civilians held by the SDF. Additionally, the U.S. military initiated a mission to transfer these prisoners to Iraq.
The SDF confirmed its acceptance of the ceasefire, pledging not to engage in military actions unless provoked. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi emphasized the importance of safeguarding Kurdish-majority territories as a non-negotiable stance.
Situated between the Turkish and Iraqi borders, northeast Syria comprises regions with Arab and Kurdish majorities and hosts the majority of the country’s energy resources. Syrian troops maintained their positions outside the last major Kurdish-held cities, Hasakah and Qamishli, on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters correspondents in the region.
The government had reinforced its troops with tanks, military vehicles, and fighters, pausing their advancement following Sharaa’s ceasefire announcement while awaiting the SDF’s response.
Over the past 13 months, the strategic landscape in Syria has undergone significant transformations since rebels, led by former al-Qaeda commander Sharaa, ousted Bashar al-Assad, the Iran-backed president, in a swift offensive. The SDF, which had previously clashed with Sharaa’s rebels during the civil war, controlled approximately a quarter of Syria, maintaining autonomy from the Assad regime.
The U.S. had a limited military presence in the region, aiding the SDF against Assad’s forces. However, Sharaa established positive relations with Washington, altering the dynamics of U.S.-Damascus relations. Turkey, viewing the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an insurgent group within Turkey, deployed troops in northern Syria to support rebel factions.
Ankara and the PKK are presently engaged in peace talks, with Turkey viewing the end of SDF influence in Syria as integral to the process. Erdogan expressed support for the ceasefire in Syria, anticipating that the full integration of the SDF into the Syrian state would usher in a new era for the country.
Erdogan and Trump discussed the Syrian situation, emphasizing the status of detainees in Syrian prisons and the ongoing fight against Islamic State during a recent phone call.
