Kurdish-led Syrian forces chief calls Assad's fall 'Historic'

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— The top commander of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto army of the autonomous administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), marked what he called “historic moments” on Sunday, declaring the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime.

“In Syria, we are living through historic moments as we witness the fall of the authoritarian regime in Damascus,” said Commander Mazloum Abdi in a statement posted on Telegram. He emphasized that the transition represents a chance to build “a new Syria founded on democracy and justice that upholds the rights of all Syrians.”

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was formally established on September 6, 2018, in Ain Issa. Since its inception, the Autonomous Administration has overseen the implementation of a democratic confederalist model across the municipalities and regions of northeastern Syria.

On Saturday, the White House reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Syria’s ongoing conflict does not pave the way for a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) or cause a humanitarian crisis.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed particular concern about potential spillover effects, particularly the reorganization of ISIS. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, Sullivan stated, “At its worst, we saw ISIS explode onto the scene during earlier stages of Syria’s civil war. Our priority is to ensure that current fighting in Syria does not lead to an ISIS resurgence.”

Sullivan added that the United States is taking proactive measures to prevent this, working both directly and in coordination with the SDF and Kurdish forces.

Sullivan also noted the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to support regional allies, including Israel, Jordan, and Iraq, in maintaining security and preventing spillover violence from Syria. “We’re in daily communication with allies to ensure they are prepared and secure against any destabilizing effects from Syria,” he said.

The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military branches, the YPG and YPJ, have been instrumental in combatting ISIS in Syria. As the backbone of the SDF, these forces have been key allies of the United States and have received arms and support to carry out their mission.

In March 2019, the Kurdish-led forces successfully expelled ISIS from its last stronghold in the village of Baghouz. Since then, an estimated to over 12,000 suspected ISIS members have remained detained in Kurdish-run prisons. Over 11,000 Kurdish fighters, both male and female, have lost their lives in a grueling five-year campaign to eliminate ISIS’s self-declared “caliphate,” which once spanned territory the size of Great Britain across Syria and Iraq.

A significant part of U.S. efforts involves preventing a humanitarian disaster. Sullivan highlighted the administration’s focus on ensuring access to life-saving resources for civilians and protecting ethnic and religious minorities. “An event like this creates opportunities for groups like ISIS to regroup and exploit the situation,” he warned.

To counter these risks, the U.S. plans to “contain potential violence and instability” while safeguarding allies and ensuring that ISIS does not gain the momentum to threaten American or allied interests.

As the U.S. government navigates the complexities of the Syrian crisis, President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of involvement in the region adds a layer of domestic debate. On Saturday, Trump, who recently visited Paris, expressed skepticism about the U.S. role in Syria, calling the situation “a mess” and asserting that “Syria is not our fight.” He posted on Truth Social, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”

Sullivan, while addressing Trump’s comments, agreed that the U.S. does not intend to escalate militarily in Syria. “The United States is not going to dive into the middle of Syria’s civil war,” he said. However, Sullivan underscored the importance of targeted efforts to contain threats like ISIS and maintain stability in the region.

The situation in Syria remains fluid, with Kurdish forces continuing their efforts to secure territories and prevent ISIS’s resurgence, while the U.S. seeks to balance regional security interests with avoiding deeper entanglement in the conflict.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)