Syria’s government has accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, of causing the deaths of 11 soldiers in attacks on Wednesday. However, the SDF has disputed some crucial aspects of the allegations, attributing at least one fatal explosion to Syrian troops handling explosives.
These incidents have jeopardized a four-day ceasefire declared on Tuesday following intense clashes in northeastern Syria. Damascus is urging the SDF to agree to a plan for assimilation into the central government.
The government of Syria claimed that a drone strike by the SDF resulted in the death of seven soldiers while they were securing a military base with explosives. They labeled it as a dangerous escalation. The SDF, on the other hand, refuted any involvement in the strike.
The SDF, previously a primary ally of the United States in Syria, stated that the explosion occurred during the relocation of explosives by Syrian soldiers. They accused the Syrian army of breaching the truce by launching attacks in multiple locations.
Damascus later reported that a total of 11 soldiers were killed and 25 were wounded in SDF assaults on army positions on the first day post the ceasefire announcement. The SDF did not address this broader accusation.
Following significant advancements against the SDF, the government announced an agreement on Tuesday with the Kurdish group for a four-day ceasefire, allowing for their integration into the central state. Failure to comply would lead to an assault on the SDF’s last two main cities.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, demanded the immediate disarmament and dissolution of the SDF, which Turkey views as a terrorist organization, to prevent further violence.
The U.S., which previously supported the SDF as its primary ally in combating Islamic State militants in Syria, did not impede the offensive. On Tuesday, it urged the group to accept the government’s proposal. The U.S. clarified that its partnership with the SDF had expired, but expressed concerns about the fate of detained Islamic State fighters and associated civilians.
On Wednesday, the U.S. military initiated a mission in Syria to transfer Islamic State prisoners to Iraq. The SDF confirmed its acceptance of the ceasefire, vowing not to engage in military actions unless provoked.
Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the SDF, emphasized the importance of safeguarding Kurdish-majority areas as a top priority. The northeast region of Syria, bordered by Turkey and Iraq, is rich in energy resources and home to a mix of Arab and Kurdish populations.
As of Wednesday, Syrian troops remained stationed outside the last major Kurdish-held cities of Hasakah and Qamishli. Reuters journalists on the ground observed significant reinforcements, including tanks, military vehicles, and fighters arriving late into the night.
The government forces halted their advance following Sharaa’s latest ceasefire declaration, awaiting the SDF’s response to the integration proposal. This development marks a significant shift in the strategic landscape of Syria over the past year, particularly after rebels backed by Sharaa ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
The SDF, which previously clashed with Sharaa’s rebels during the civil war, controlled a substantial portion of Syria, maintaining autonomy from the Assad regime in Damascus. The U.S. played a crucial role in supporting the SDF against Assad’s forces.
However, Sharaa’s improved relations with Washington have reshaped the dynamics between the U.S. and Damascus. Turkey, viewing the SDF as linked to the PKK insurgency, has supported rebel groups in northern Syria.
Ankara is currently engaged in peace talks with the PKK and sees the end of SDF control in Syria as a vital component of this process. Erdogan welcomed the ceasefire in Syria, hoping for the complete integration of the SDF into the Syrian state to usher in a new era for the country.
Erdogan and Trump discussed the Syrian situation, focusing on prisoners in Syrian jails and the ongoing fight against Islamic State during a recent phone call.