Syria's new political landscape - UPDATES

[Anthea]

Syrian FM Says No Tangible
Progress in Talks with Kurds

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on Sunday that negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish officials have yet to yield substantive results, despite ongoing discussions aimed at reintegrating the Kurdish-led administration and its military forces into the Syrian state

Speaking to Al-Monitor on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, Shibani said, “The discussions with the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] are continuing. There are no positive or practical steps [taken so far]. In general, the trajectory is positive.”

His comments contrasted sharply with those of US Syria Envoy Tom Barrack, who said a day earlier that the talks were going “amazingly well” during his speech at the same conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

A potential deal between the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government is viewed as essential to stabilizing the country and reviving its war-torn economy.

The Kurdish administration currently controls about one-third of Syria, including most of its oil and water resources.

The ongoing talks follow the March 10, 2025, agreement reached between the new Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which laid the groundwork for integrating SDF units into a restructured national army under a unified defense framework.

The agreement also included provisions for recognizing local governance institutions in Kurdish-held regions and ensuring a fair share of national revenues for reconstruction and public services.

However, the implementation of the March deal has stalled due to disagreements over command structures, administrative autonomy, and the future of US forces stationed in northeastern Syria.

While Damascus insists on full central control, Kurdish leaders have continued to push for constitutional guarantees that preserve regional self-administration.

Analysts say the outcome of the current negotiations could shape Syria’s post-war political landscape and influence broader regional dynamics, particularly as Washington and regional powers push for a sustainable political settlement to end more than a decade of conflict.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898222

Part of the problem is that the SDF are bullies and have always sought to take control ignoring all other Kurdish groups within the area and removing the MUCH LOVED name of WESTERN KURDISTAN they have also denied Kurds the right to aim for an independent Western Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Syria raises electricity tariffs by 60%

The Syrian government has raised electricity rates by 60 percent, a Damascus official confirmed to Rudaw, citing the need to cover rising electricity production and network maintenance costs. The official also reaffirmed ongoing cooperation with the Kurdish-led administration in Western Kurdistan in the power dossier

Khaled Abu Di, Director-General of Syria’s Public Establishment for Electricity Transmission and Distribution, stated Sunday that his country currently provides electricity for only seven to eight hours per day due to fuel shortages.

“Our generating capacity is around 3,500 to 5,000 megawatts [MW], but currently we cannot produce more than 2,200 MW because of limited fuel,” Abu Di explained. He linked the fuel shortage directly to the recent tariff adjustments, emphasizing the need for revenue to fund imported gas and fuel oil.

He further elaborated that “previously, electricity cost 10 Syrian Pounds [around $0.0009] per kWh. Today, the tariff starts at 600 Syrian Pounds [about $0.05] per kWh. This is a very large increase, but cannot frame it as a simple percentage rise. We can say that the electricity tariff was subsidized by 60 percent.”

Consumption beyond this threshold is billed at 1,400 Syrian Pounds [approximately $0.12] per kWh, which Abu Di noted remains below the actual production cost.

The Syrian official also explained that the primary purpose of the tariff adjustment is to enable longer electricity supply hours. “Increasing supply hours requires increasing generation, which in turn requires more gas and fuel. These fuels are imported, not locally produced, so revenue is needed to cover production costs,” he said.

The new electricity tariff hike has sparked widespread discontent among Syrians, particularly those with limited incomes.

Ahmed Alish, a resident of Damascus, told Rudaw, “People are barely making ends meet. My retirement salary is 300,000 Syrian pounds [around $27], and if it weren’t for my son’s support, I would be living in misery.” He urged the Damascus government to take into account the struggles of ordinary Syrians, saying the concern should extend beyond electricity tariffs to all aspects of daily life.

Ties with Western Kurdistan

On electricity coordination with the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria governing Western Kurdistan, Abu Di told Rudaw, “We have very good communication. We also have an exchange of electricity between the areas of north and east Syria and the government-controlled areas.”

The Syrian official explained that the primary goal of this cooperation “is to secure electric power for essential services, whether to cover water needs, electricity, or humanitarian services such as hospitals and bakeries.”

Abu Di noted that the exchange takes place at the al-Thawra Dam - also known as the Tabqa Dam - located in the north-central Raqqa province, largely under Kurdish administration

Critical for managing water resources, the arrangement is designed “to reduce reliance on the Tabqa Dam for electricity generation, preserving the water level to prevent it from reaching dangerous levels or negatively affecting the dam’s structure,” he said.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/03112025

[Anthea]

US Removes Syrian President
From Terror List

The United States has formally removed Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara from its terrorism blacklist, days before his scheduled visit to the White House for talks with President Donald Trump, the State Department announced on Friday

The decision came shortly after Washington led a successful UN Security Council vote to lift sanctions on Al Shara, signaling a major diplomatic shift following the fall of former Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad.

“These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar Al Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

He added that Al Shara’s transitional government has met several US conditions, including cooperation on locating missing American citizens and dismantling any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles.

The US also lifted its terrorist designation of Defence Minister Anas Khattab, Pigott confirmed.

Al Shara, who once led the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) rebel group—formed from a faction that broke away from Al Qaeda—had been listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, with the US previously offering a bounty for his capture

HTS spearheaded a rapid military campaign that overran Damascus on December 8 last year, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. Shortly after taking control, Al Shara announced the dissolution of HTS and the formation of a transitional government, pledging national reconciliation and cooperation with international partners.

In June, President Trump revoked most US sanctions on Syria following his meeting with Al Shara in Saudi Arabia during a Gulf tour the previous month. Since then, Al Shara has undertaken several high-profile foreign visits aimed at restoring Syria’s diplomatic and economic relations with Western and regional powers after more than a decade of international isolation.

Ahmad Al Shara, a former opposition commander and once Assad’s vice foreign minister before defecting in 2012, rose to prominence as a key leader of Syria’s armed rebellion.

His ascent to the presidency followed a rapid collapse of Assad’s forces in late 2024 amid widespread defections and mounting international pressure.

The United States had long designated HTS and its affiliates as terrorist organizations due to their ties to Al Qaeda. However, since taking power, Al Shara has sought to distance his government from extremist elements and to establish a secular, coalition-based administration in Damascus.

Analysts view Washington’s delisting of Al Shara as a strategic realignment in the Middle East, potentially paving the way for the normalization of relations between Syria and Western nations after years of war and sanctions.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898669

[Anthea]

Two Assassination Attempts
on President Al-Sharaa

Syrian authorities confirmed that they have thwarted two separate assassination attempts by the terrorist group Daesh targeting President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, according to a Reuters report, underscoring persistent security challenges as the country rebuilds after 14 years of civil war

A senior Syrian security official and a Middle East expert told Reuters that one of the plots aimed at a publicly scheduled presidential appearance.

Details withheld due to the sensitivity of the investigation

The revelations come as President Al-Sharaa is preparing for a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where the two leaders are expected to discuss Syria’s formal entry into the US-led coalition against Daesh.

Since assuming office in December following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad by opposition forces, Al-Sharaa has positioned himself as a moderate reformist seeking to unify Syria’s divided society and attract international backing for reconstruction efforts.

In recent days, the Syrian government has launched an extensive security campaign against ISIS cells across the country, detaining more than 70 suspects.

Officials said the operation was based on intelligence indicating imminent attacks targeting both government and civilian sites.

The crackdown, they added, demonstrates Damascus’s growing intelligence capability to infiltrate the group’s networks.

Before becoming president, Al-Sharaa was the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that formally cut ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016.

He has spent years combating Daesh militants through security operations and counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the Idlib region.

Analysts say the decision to join the US-led coalition marks a major shift in Syria’s foreign policy, signaling Al-Sharaa’s intent to normalize ties with Washington and its allies.

Enhanced military coordination with US forces could also pave the way for easing remaining Western sanctions and rebuilding Syria’s war-torn economy.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898840

Ahmed Al-Sharaa is not my favorite person and I remember who he was and exactly what he did, but at this moment in time he is the best person to revive Syria, in fact he is the ONLY person capable of uniting the country

[Anthea]

Syria Reopens Embassy in London

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Thursday reopened the Syrian Embassy in London, raising the national flag above the building in a ceremony attended by members of the Syrian community

The move marks a major step in Damascus’s gradual diplomatic reintegration after more than a decade of isolation.

Al-Shaibani posted a photo on X showing himself hoisting the flag, writing: “After years of isolation imposed by Assad’s chemical regime, today we reopen the Syrian Embassy in London. Syria returns to the world under its free identity.”

The reopening comes during al-Shaibani’s official visit to Britain — the first of its kind since the formation of the new Syrian administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“We carry the hopes and aspirations of Syrians to build a homeland that protects the future of our children and future generations,” al-Shaibani said earlier, noting that the visit was made “under the guidance” of President al-Sharaa.

During his trip, al-Shaibani also met with members of the Syrian community in Britain and is expected to hold talks with several senior British officials aimed at reestablishing diplomatic and consular cooperation between the two nations.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the visit as part of a broader strategy to “build balanced relations with Western countries” following recent diplomatic successes in restoring ties with regional powers. The new administration has actively sought to rebuild foreign relations and dismantle the international isolation imposed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who lost power earlier this year.

Britain lifted sanctions on President al-Sharaa last week, a move that followed the United Nations Security Council’s decision to ease remaining restrictions on Damascus. Analysts say these developments reflect a growing recognition among Western governments of Syria’s changing political landscape and the new leadership’s efforts to reengage with the international community.

The embassy’s reopening follows a series of symbolic milestones, including President al-Sharaa’s landmark visit to Washington last month, where he met with US President Donald Trump — the first meeting between Syrian and American leaders since Syria’s independence in 1946. The visit underscored a mutual interest in exploring avenues for regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/899075

[Anthea]

Syrian security forces crack
down on protests

Several protesters were wounded on Tuesday as Syrian security forces cracked down on demonstrations in Homs, Hama, and multiple coastal areas calling for decentralization and the release of detainees, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

The Observatory reported that peaceful demonstrations were met with gunfire in Homs, Jableh, Latakia, and rural Hama, alongside severe repression that raised fears of broader unrest.

Witnesses accused security personnel of running over demonstrators with government vehicles and firing live bullets indiscriminately.

In Jableh, confrontations erupted after individuals loyal to the transitional authorities stormed a protest led by members of the Alawite community who were calling for political decentralization and the release of prisoners. The clashes included the use of live ammunition and chants that heightened tensions among local residents.

Security forces closed the entrance to al-Amara Street in Jableh in an attempt to disperse the crowds, prompting protesters to regroup near the city bridge. Authorities also blocked demonstrators from rural Jableh who attempted to reach the city, amid rising tensions across the coastal region.

A separate rally was held in Tartous demanding an end to abuses and arbitrary detention practices by the transitional authority.

Arrests, injuries reported in Homs

In Homs, gunmen opened fire on demonstrators in the al-Zahraa neighborhood and assaulted them physically, resulting in several injuries. The violence forced protesters to withdraw from the area as the attackers chanted sectarian slogans targeting members of the Alawite community.

Local sources confirmed that a number of demonstrators were arrested by security forces, with heavy gunfire reported near residential homes.

The protests came in response to a call issued by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Higher Islamic Alawite Council in Syria and the diaspora, urging Syrians to demonstrate peacefully and reject violations attributed to the transitional authority. He urged citizens to avoid sectarian rhetoric and attempts to sow division.

Ministry cautions against external incitement

Tensions have escalated in neighborhoods with significant Alawite populations across Syria, including the coast, Homs, and parts of Damascus, with warnings that these developments could push the country toward deeper fragmentation.

In a statement, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba warned against responding to what he described as foreign calls aimed at fueling discord and threatening social cohesion.

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the right to protest and ensuring equal treatment for all components of Syrian society.

39 civilians killed in one week

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented the killing of 39 civilians in just one week, attributing the deaths to incidents of violence and security chaos across various regions of Syria.

The Observatory stated that this death toll underscores, once again, the rapid collapse of public security and the failure of the various competent bodies to fulfill their duty to protect civilians and safeguard their right to life.

In an earlier report, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that at least 11,226 people have been killed in the eleven months since the fall of the previous Syrian regime. The monitor noted that the country is experiencing a wave of widespread chaos and violations against civilians.

On November 16, a shooting at a cafe in the village of Umm Hartein in the western Homs countryside left four Syrian civilians dead and one wounded. The attack, carried out by unidentified gunmen, claimed the life of a local man identified as Mukhtar Wadi al-Mawla, also known as "Abu Ghazal".

Repeated massacres and killings threaten safety

Between 6 and 9 March 2025, Latakia and Tartous governorates witnessed deadly attacks focused targeting Alawite communities in Syria's coastal region. SOHR documented over 1,400 deaths following insurgent attacks, with evidence of looting, arson, and sectarian violence. These events highlight the continued targeting of specific communities along sectarian lines.

On June 22, 2025, a suicide bombing and shooting attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more during a religious service. This incident underscored the vulnerability of minority groups, with civilians again bearing the brunt of violence amid ongoing armed conflict.

Southern Syria also experienced deadly clashes, particularly in Sweida. From July 13-15, 2025, government forces and allied fighters engaged in operations against Druze communities, resulting in at least 1,311 deaths, including many civilians.

Earlier, between April 29 and May 1, 2025, ambushes and field executions in the same region killed dozens of Druze civilians and combatants; some victims were subjected to summary executions.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... l-protests

[Anthea]

Over 500k Syrians left Turkey since Assad fall

Turkish interior minister announced on Saturday that over 500,000 Syrians have left Turkey to return home since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December

"From December 8, 2024, to today, 550,000 of our Syrian brothers and sisters have made voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly returns to their country,” Ali Yerlikaya said on X.

A coalition of rebel factions led by the Syrian Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, ousted Assad in an operation that concluded on December 8.

Ankara is a staunch supporter of the new authorities in Damascus, led by the former jihadist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Turkey has hosted the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, sheltering several million Syrians for years. Most fled the civil war that erupted in 2011, a conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

Ankara has been accused of resettling Syrian Arab families in northern Syria where its repeated military offensives have forced thousands of Kurdish families from their homes since 2016.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/02112025

The Arab Belt put on Kurdish land to separate Kurds of Western Kurdistan from Kurds of Northern Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Trump say has confidence in Syria’s Sharaa

President Donald Trump told Rudaw on Tuesday that he is confident that Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa can do a “good job” for the war-torn country

“I think Syria has come a long way. The new leader of Syria was here, as you know, three weeks ago… Not an easy job. It is centuries of problems. But I think he's going to do a good job. I have a lot of confidence in him,” he said when Rudaw asked him about the growing demands of Syria’s minority groups for autonomy and greater rights.

Sharaa on Monday received Trump’s Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Damascus to discuss “the latest developments in the region and issues of common interest.” The meeting coincided with comments from Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social platform that Washington is “very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the country of Syria.”

“We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended… to build a true and prosperous country,” Trump said, adding that his rollback of “very strong and biting sanctions” had “helped them greatly.”

Syria officially joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in November, following a landmark meeting between Trump and Sharaa at the White House - the first such encounter for a Syrian president in more than eight decades.

Sharaa’s now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) with the help of other rebel groups toppled Syria’s long-time dictator Bashar al-Assar a year ago. He was later declared the interim president of the country and promised greater rights to Syrians. However, massacres against minority groups like the Druze and Alawites have sent alarms across the country, with Kurds fearing that they could be next.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/021220252

[Anthea]

Irreversible new phase

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa marks the first year after Assad’s fall by pledging a full break with the past, a unified army, and a commitment to transitional justice

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared on Monday that Syria has entered “a new and irreversible phase,” built on three central pillars: restoring public trust, making a complete break with the legacy of the former regime, and unifying all armed forces under a single national command.

Al-Sharaa made the remarks during a speech marking the first anniversary of the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s rule. He said the Syrian people “granted us their trust after decades of oppression and injustice,” adding that the government was now making “a historic rupture with every vestige of the previous regime.”

The interim president emphasized that all military units formed during the conflict have been merged into a unified national army, which he described as essential for long-term stability and the protection of Syrian sovereignty. “We have completed the integration of all military factions into one national army that forms the foundation of stability and safeguards Syria’s sovereignty,” he said.

Addressing human rights accusations and the abuses reported throughout the transition, al-Sharaa underscored his government’s commitment to transitional justice. He pledged that accountability would apply to all parties, stating: “Anyone who committed violations against the Syrian people, from any side, will face justice in accordance with the law.”

Syria marks one year since new rule

Syria’s capital witnessed a large military parade on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with official celebrations also planned in the Umayyad Square and several other provinces.

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa led commemorations by performing the dawn prayer at the Umayyad Mosque, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

“From north to south and from east to west, God willing, we will restore Syria strong with a reconstruction worthy of its present and past… We will rebuild it through obedience to God Almighty, supporting the oppressed, and ensuring justice among people, God willing,” SANA quoted him as saying.

Opposition armed groups declared the overthrow of al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, after advancing into Damascus following a sustained offensive against loyalist forces.

Syria faces mounting challenges

However, several regions have since experienced severe sectarian violence, particularly in the coastal areas in the west and in Sweida in the south, where thousands of government-backed militants attacked and killed hundreds of civilians.

Eastern and northeastern Syria, areas with a Kurdish majority, continue to witness recurring clashes between fighters from the transitional government’s Ministry of Defense and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has repeatedly rejected a return to centralized rule.

Beyond Syria’s borders, Damascus’ foreign policy has undergone major shifts under the new government, including an opening to the United States and the launch of direct negotiations with the Israeli occupation to reach a security agreement, amid continuous Israeli attacks and refusal to withdraw from territories they occupied after the former regime collapsed.

The occupation had seized large stretches of southern Syrian territory under the pretext of protecting the Druze minority in Sweida, and launched attacks against the new authorities, including a strike on the Ministry of Defense HQs in Damascus.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... --after-as

[Anthea]

SDF Calls for Dialogue

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) marked the first anniversary of President Bashar al-Assad’s removal from power by calling for a comprehensive national dialogue and renewed efforts to ensure the safe return of displaced Syrians, particularly those forced from Afrin, Tal Abyad (Grê Spi), and Ras al-Ain (Serê Kani)

In a statement released on Monday, SDF General Command said the former regime had driven the country into catastrophe, using severe repression against its own population for decades.

It recalled that northern and northeastern Syria were the first regions to expel regime security institutions in 2012, paving the way for a new democratic administration and local defense forces that later developed into the SDF.

The statement noted that thousands of SDF fighters were killed in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), which at its peak controlled large parts of eastern Syria.

“The people of this region suffered marginalization, poverty, and forced displacement under Baath rule. It is time to correct those injustices,” the SDF said.

On the political front, the group urged the start of a national, inclusive dialogue that guarantees equal rights for all ethnic and religious communities.

This coming from a group that took control of parts of Western Kurdistan, refused to work with other Kurdish groups and refused to use the name Western Kurdistan and stated that Western Kurdistan would no longer seek independence, even though many THOUSANDS had fought and died for an Independent Western Kurdistan

It stressed that the return of displaced residents from Afrin, Grê Spi, and Serê Kani must be treated as a priority and not ignored or postponed by future governments.

The SDF reaffirmed its role as the primary security force in northern and northeastern Syria, vowing to defend the region against all threats.

It said Syria’s future depends on overcoming the legacy of the old regime and building a state based on freedom, justice, and shared governance.

The anniversary marks one year since Syrian opposition forces entered Damascus on 8 December 2024, ending Assad’s 24-year rule.

Assad and members of his family fled toward Moscow shortly after the collapse of state authority. Despite repeated calls from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the time for Russia to surrender Assad, Moscow refused.

The fall of Assad followed years of military setbacks, economic collapse, deepening public anger, and shifting regional dynamics — a combination that ultimately brought an end to decades of Baath Party rule.

The SDF, while not directly involved in the final assault on Damascus, has since positioned itself as a key actor in shaping Syria’s political and security landscape in the post-Assad era.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/901134

[Anthea]

Discussion in Washington
focuses on Syria’s future

One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the future of Syria and its fraught transitional phase remain a central topic of debate in Washington

Policymakers and experts convened in the US capital on Wednesday to discuss Syria’s evolving landscape and Washington’s policy toward the country.

A key point of focus was the ongoing US mediation between Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government to form a unified Syrian army, an effort nearing its first anniversary but showing limited progress.

“Opinion is kind of divided within the US government,” said Charles Lister, Director of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute. “Opinion is unified on the idea that there has to be integration, that’s clear. But the division of opinion is as to whether or not the US should be forcing forward that deal or just providing a space to talk.

And I think we’ve had nine months of the US mediating, providing the space, being in the room. But in that nine months, nothing has changed.”

He added that frustration is mounting, particularly within the US military.

“They’re there on the ground and they’re seeing that tensions are rising and that this is becoming unsustainable. So [there is] increasing impatience that something has to change—this deal has to be implemented," he added.

In March, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed an agreement to integrate Western Kurdistan forces, but the deal has yet to move forward. Both Washington and Ankara have urged the SDF and Damascus to accelerate implementation.

“The US plays a major role, from the fall of the Assad regime until now, in negotiations between the Autonomous Administration and the SDF on one side, and the Syrian government on the other,” said Sinam Mohamad, the Syrian Democratic Council’s (SDC) representative in Washington.

Mohamad detailed: “This role is very important to guarantee the rights of those components living in northeastern Syria. This is an important issue."

The SDC is the political arm of the SDF

Joining the event online, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said the US military remains focused on three priorities in Syria: ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS, supporting implementation of the March 10 agreement between the Kurds and Damascus, and increasing coordination with Syrian forces to stabilize the country.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/111220252

[Anthea]

Political, Military Disputes
Stall SDF-Damascus Dialogue

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have revealed that talks with Syria’s transitional government have stalled, citing political and military obstacles despite the formal opening of dialogue channels

In a recent statement, the SDF said ongoing discussions with relevant authorities in Damascus have failed to produce tangible progress, particularly on issues related to political consensus and military coordination.

The group noted that Damascus has so far remained silent on key proposals, including the unification of forces.

According to the SDF, its leadership has put forward a new initiative to the Syrian government proposing the integration of SDF forces into the country’s official army as a step toward unifying military capabilities.

However, the proposal has yet to receive any formal or positive response from Damascus.

The SDF reiterated its commitment to preserving Syria’s territorial integrity within the framework of a unified state, stressing that any such arrangement must include guaranteed security assurances for SDF-held areas and forces.

The political deadlock comes despite an agreement signed on March 10 between SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Ahmad al-Sharaa, head of Syria’s transitional phase.

The deal was presented as a roadmap for resolving outstanding disputes, but both sides are now accusing each other of failing to implement its provisions and of not honoring agreed commitments.

As tensions persist and trust erodes, prospects for a comprehensive settlement between Damascus and northeast Syria remain uncertain, leaving the future of negotiations unclear amid continued political and military strain.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/901787

[Anthea]

Damascus sieges Kurdish quarters of Aleppo

Authorities controlling the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo have warned that fighting could resume - and civilians face the risk of a “massacre” - unless a siege imposed by Damascus is lifted and normal life restored

Clashes broke out on Monday between Kurdish Asayish forces and Syrian government troops and allied factions in the two Kurdish neighobrhoods, killing at least two people, including 57-year-old Fadwa Muhammad al-Kurdi, and injuring more than a dozen others. Among the wounded were a young girl and six members of the Kurdish internal security forces, according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

After several hours of heavy fighting, the Syrian government and the SDF agreed to a ceasefire.

“The Syrian government initiated the fighting,” said Nouri Sheikho, co-chair of the General Council of the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, speaking to Rudaw on Tuesday.

He warned that “there is a strong possibility that clashes will resume and a genocide may occur, as no one is allowed to enter our neighborhoods due to the siege.”

“The state forces were defeated, and a ceasefire followed in order to begin talks,” Sheikho added. “However, the fighting could reignite, as they have not adhered to their promises.”

Since the collapse of the former Assad regime last year, Kurdish-led forces - which maintain security control over the two densely populated neighborhoods, home to more than 1.5 million people - have repeatedly clashed with the new authorities in Damascus.

“The Syrian government’s problem with our neighborhoods is not new,” Sheikho said. “What happened yesterday is a continuation of unresolved post-conflict complications.”

He claimed the fighting was premeditated, alleging that Damascus launched a media campaign portraying Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh as threats to the Syrian state.

“They intended to invade both neighborhoods, but our security forces repelled them,” he said. “The fighting was extremely intense - weapons were used as if this were a conflict between two states. Tanks were deployed.”

Sheikho said Kurdish security forces resisted for more than five hours with the support of residents. “The attack was defeated. We demonstrated historic resistance,” he said.

Hevin Sulaiman, co-chair of the neighborhoods’ council, echoed the warning that clashes could resume, also stating that Damascus initiated the violence.

In a statement, the SDF released videos it said show Syrian government forces withdrawing from a joint checkpoint with Kurdish forces shortly before the clashes erupted.

The SDF also shared footage it claims depicts Syrian troops shelling the neighborhoods with tanks and artillery, describing the assault as “premeditated” and aimed at paving the way for a planned attack.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /231220252