Syrian Kurds urge end to all military operations across the country

RAQQA ,— Kurdish authorities in northern Syria, called Monday for an end to fighting across the country and extended an offer to work with new leadership in Damascus following recent political and military upheavals.

Hussein Othman, head of the executive council of the semi-autonomous administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), urged an immediate halt to all military operations. “We call for an end to fighting throughout Syria to pave the way for a comprehensive national dialogue,” he said during a press conference in Raqqa.

The appeal comes just over a week after Islamist-led rebels ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in a swift offensive that saw large swaths of territory fall under their control.

Simultaneously, Turkish-backed Islamist mercenary groups launched an attack on Kurdish forces near the border, capturing the strategic towns of Manbij and Tel Rifaat in northern Syria.

The Kurdish community, long marginalized under the Assad regime, fears the recent developments could jeopardize gains made during Syria’s civil war, including the establishment of self-rule in Kurdish regions.

Othman emphasized that Syria’s political marginalization must end, calling for unity among political forces to rebuild the country. “The political exclusion that has destroyed Syria must be replaced with an inclusive effort to shape the transitional period,” he said.

Othman also proposed an emergency meeting in Damascus to unite political factions and chart a path forward.

The statement stressed preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty while countering attacks by Turkey and allied militias.

Kurdish authorities control significant oil-producing regions in Syria and called for equitable distribution of the nation’s resources.

Kurdish-led forces also announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Turkish-backed Islamist fighters in Manbij. Fighting there left at least 218 people dead, according to Kurdish sources.

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkish-backed jihadi forces are preparing to launch an assault on Kobane, a key Kurdish town on the border.

In 2020, Turkey deployed thousands of Syrian Islamist mercenary fighters to support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, as well as to Libya.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led militia that has been pivotal in fighting ISIS, has warned of escalating aggression.

Backed by the U.S., the SDF played a leading role in defeating ISIS in Syria, driving the extremist group out of its last stronghold in 2019. However, Turkey views the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a key component of the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Turkey, which has staged several military operations against Kurdish forces in Syrian Kurdistan since 2016, fears that a Kurdish autonomous region in Syria could embolden separatist movements among its own Kurdish population.

Ankara, long a Syrian Islamist rebel backer, has recently reopened its embassy in Damascus following Assad’s ouster, signaling a shift in its approach to the Syrian conflict.

The semi-autonomous administration in Syrian Kurdistan, led by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), has been recognized for its secular governance model. Established in Ain Issa in 2018, the administration emphasizes gender equality, direct democracy, and environmental sustainability.

The PYD’s military wing, the YPG and its all-female counterpart, the YPJ, have been celebrated as key forces in the fight against ISIS.

Despite their successes, Kurdish forces continue to face challenges. Over 12,000 suspected ISIS members remain in Kurdish-run prisons, and more than 21,000 Kurdish male and female fighters have died in battles against ISIS and Turkish-backed mercenary groups.

The Kurdish administration has urged international support to maintain stability and prevent further escalation in the region.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)