Syrian Kurds tell Damascus they do not seek independence

QAMISHLO,— In a statement on Wednesday, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), General Mazloum Abdi, reaffirmed his group’s commitment to the unity of Syria, rejecting any plans for the region’s separation.

Abdi emphasized that the Kurdish-led forces do not seek to break away from the rest of the country, a stance that aligns with their longstanding position on preserving Syria’s territorial integrity.

“We are dedicated to maintaining Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and oppose any attempts to divide the country,” Abdi said in a statement to AFP.

The remarks come after a productive meeting between Kurdish leaders and representatives of the new Damascus Islamist authorities late last month.

The talks come after weeks of intense clashes between the SDF and Turkish-backed Islamist mercenary forces in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava). Despite these tensions, Abdi expressed support for the new Syrian Islamist administration’s efforts to stabilize the country, calling for a constructive dialogue between Syrians.

“It is the responsibility of the new administration to intervene in order to implement a ceasefire across Syria,” Abdi added, stressing the importance of ending the violence that has plagued the region for years.

The Kurdish forces, who control much of Syria’s oil-rich northeast, have operated with de facto autonomy since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011. The SDF, supported by U.S. forces, played a pivotal role in the defeat of ISIS, expelling the militant group from its last strongholds in 2019.

However, Turkey has consistently opposed the SDF due to its links to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group it has fought for decades in its own insurgency.

The SDF/YPG has refuted the allegations and denied any links to the PKK, accusing Turkey of using false pretexts to extend its invasion of Kurdish territories in Syria.

Turkey has launched multiple military operations against the SDF since 2016, and the recent escalation between Turkish-backed Islamist mercenary fighters and the SDF has resulted in significant casualties. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 100 fighters were killed in clashes between these groups last week.

Meanwhile, Turkish shelling killed five Kurdish civilians on Wednesday as they were en route to the Tishreen Dam in Aleppo province, an area held by the SDF. The civilians were reportedly protesting against continued Turkish attacks on the region.

On the diplomatic front, the SDF’s relationship with Damascus remains a subject of interest. Last month, a senior official in Damascus told AFP that Kurdish representatives, including from the SDF, had met with Syrian Islamist officials in the capital on December 30.

The talks were described as “positive.” In a separate interview, Syrian opposition figure Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, stated that the SDF should be integrated into the national Syrian army, calling for the centralization of military power under the government.

As Turkey’s pressure on the Kurdish forces intensifies, the future of Syria’s fragmented landscape remains uncertain. The dialogue between the SDF and the Damascus de facto rulers may hold the key to a lasting resolution, but with military and political challenges on the horizon, the situation in northern Syria remains volatile.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)