Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.

It’s time for Syria’s Kurds to fold: FT

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 21 Feb 2025 14:14
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

The report highlights Syria's fragile transition, with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leading an unstable government, regional powers investing while Western sanctions persist, and the SDF seen as an obstacle to unity.

Listen
  • x
  • Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces pose for a portrait at a checkpoint in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, on January 31, 2025. (AP)
    Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces pose for a portrait at a checkpoint in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, on January 31, 2025. (AP)

In an analytical piece published by the Financial Times (FT), Charles Lister, director of the Syria and Counterterrorism and Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute, pointed out that Syria’s transition rests on fragile foundations. It is managed at the top by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which still hasn't shown any of the promised progress for the country.

Lister stressed that while regional states are seizing the opportunity to "reshape the heart of the Middle East" while flooding the capital with aid and investments, the US and Europe have kept the sanctions against Syria - leaving little to no hope for the country's economy to recover. 

In the report, Lister mentions that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US' ally, remains the large elephant in the room. He gave credit to the SDF for confronting ISIS, but stressed that it is now a problem that "needs to go away". 

He argued that Syrians across all ethnic, religious, and regional groups agree that unity is essential, adding that the people believe the SDF's autonomous administration and forces should dissolve and integrate into the Syrian state, with its energy and agricultural resources placed under Damascus's control.

Until these steps are taken, the SDF is widely viewed within Syria as an "occupier" and a "threat," with strong domestic animosity toward its US backers.

Related News

2 killed, 11 injured in armed attack on passenger bus in Syria

Israeli forces raid Syrian military barracks in Quneitra: SOHR

According to the report, since December 2024, the SDF has been engaged in negotiations with Syria’s interim government over its integration into a "unified Syrian state." However, high-level in-person talks have stalled since a deadly car bombing in Manbij, blamed on the SDF, killed more than 20 people. Despite this, Lister adds, every Syrian he spoke with favored a negotiated settlement over a military confrontation.

Lister revealed that US military officers have been actively facilitating these discussions, even attending high-level meetings at Dumayr Airbase near Damascus. US Central Command also approved the dissolution of the Syrian Free Army—a smaller US-backed force based at al-Tanf—under interim government control. Additionally, a senior US general privately commended interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for his military campaign that ousted Assad, even awarding him a medal, according to a Syrian source present in the meeting.

'United fronts' 

According to the report, the SDF is weighing a deal that promises Syria’s Kurds equal rights, Kurdish as an official second language, and guaranteed representation in Syria’s transitional bodies, including a temporary parliament and constitutional committee.

Additionally, oil and agricultural revenues would be proportionally allocated to the northeast. While the SDF has largely accepted the framework, the key sticking point remains its demand to retain a distinct military force within Syria’s armed forces, stationed only in the northeast—something Damascus firmly rejects, Lister wrote. 

The Syrian government insists all factions must fully integrate to prevent warlordism and promote national unity. With no compromise on this issue, a deal remains elusive. Meanwhile, Turkiye is prepared to launch an offensive should negotiations fail, and Arab tribes are reportedly ready to support such an operation.

On the other hand, the US, which still has strategic interests in Syria, must push for a resolution to stabilize the region and counter ISIS, as the interim government cannot manage the insurgency alone, according to Lister. 

  • Syria
  • Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Damascus

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS