SDF says Syria must take action against Turkish attacks
4 Min Read
The Syrian Democratic Forces call on the Syrian government to take action against the Turkish aggression on the country
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Members of the new security forces stand guard at a checkpoint located near the border with Lebanon, in the town of Serghaya, Syria, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 (AP)
The Commander-in-Chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, stated that "Syria has entered a new, irreversible phase, where neither the Syrian people nor international powers want a return to civil war or unrest."
In an interview with Hawar News Agency, Abdi highlighted that the SDF and representatives of northern and eastern Syria view this transition as an opportunity for a fresh start despite significant challenges, such as security voids, human rights violations, a deteriorating economy, and ongoing sanctions.
Abdi noted that "over the past 14 years, three administrations have emerged: one that has collapsed, the former regime's administration; one in eastern Euphrates; and another in western Euphrates under the interim government. In the Autonomous Administration areas, there is an active effort to build institutions, promote democracy, and play a major role in shaping the new Syria."
Regarding the continued assaults on northern and eastern Syria, Abdi remarked, "There is a stark and evident contradiction. While much of Syria is experiencing a phase of relative stability, with only minor clashes, our areas, such as Qaraqozak and Tishreen Dam, are under aerial and artillery attacks from Turkish forces."
"This inconsistency does not align with the current discourse around resolving the Syrian crisis," Abdi added, pointing to the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army’s ongoing aggression in the region.
Abdi emphasized that the SDF has made multiple efforts to halt these attacks, including a proposal to stop aggression on Kobani. "We continue to offer initiatives to end attacks on areas like Tishreen Dam and Qaraqozak Bridge and are working through mediators, including the United States, to achieve this goal," he said.
He also urged Syria's new administration to take a clear stance against these attacks and work toward stopping them. "As a body responsible for all of Syria, the administration should engage with us and collaborate to build the future of Syria," Abdi concluded.
MoD ready to cooperate with Kurdish groups
Syria's Defense Minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, announced on Wednesday that the government is open to negotiating with SDF about integrating them into the national army. However, he warned that military action remains an option should these talks fail.
"The door to negotiation with the (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces) is currently open," Abu Qasra stated. "If we have to use force, we will be ready."
This development follows a meeting last month between an SDF delegation and Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim leader and head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which led the offensive that ousted President Bashar al-Assad. During an interview with Al Arabiya, Sharaa proposed incorporating the Kurdish-led forces into the national military to ensure that weapons are "in the hands of the state alone."
Read more: Al-Sharaa holds talks with SDF amid intense clashes in Syria's north
The SDF, backed by the United States, played a role in expelling the Islamic State group from its last territory in Syria in 2019.
However, the coalition's formation and continued operations have been widely viewed as a strategy to facilitate and consolidate the US military presence in Syria, a presence that violates Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The SDF has since retained control over much of the oil-rich northeastern region, where it has exercised de facto autonomy for over a decade.
Abu Qasra dismissed offers of oil from the SDF, asserting that the government's priority is restoring full sovereignty. "They offered us oil, but we don't want oil, we want the institutions and the borders," he said.
