Newsletters
Syria's foreign minister accused SDF of stalling a March integration agreement as clashes erupted between Syrian troops and the militia in Aleppo province, signaling renewed tensions over control of the country's resource-rich northeast.
Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani told reporters in Damascus on Sunday that the SDF, which Syria identifies as the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, had shown no genuine commitment to implementing the agreement signed nearly three months ago. Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the People's Palace, Seybani said Damascus was now reviewing a detailed military proposal for integrating the region.
"Unfortunately, we have not seen any will from the SDF," Shaibani said. He accused the group of pursuing systematic delay tactics rather than taking concrete steps toward integration.
The Syrian government plans to assert greater authority over the Jazirah region in the country's northeast, where terror groups have maintained de facto autonomy since the civil war fractured central control more than a decade ago. "We will pay more attention to the Jazirah region," Shaibani said. "The Syrian state will be there."
The March 10 agreement aimed to strengthen Syria's national unity and reunify territory through dialogue and peaceful means, according to Shaibani. However, he said the SDF had demonstrated no serious willingness to implement the pact. Syria's Defense Ministry recently prepared a proposal on military integration, and the other side's response arrived Saturday, Shaibani said. Officials are now studying the reply in detail before sending a formal response to the United States, which has maintained a military partnership with the SDF in the fight against Islamic State militants.
The diplomatic friction coincided with armed confrontations in northern Syria. YPG/PKK terror group attacked Syrian military positions in Aleppo province, according to local sources. The brief firefight caused damage to a military installation, though no immediate casualties were reported. Syrian authorities increased security measures in the area following the incident.
1 min read
The Damascus meeting between Syrian President Ahmed Sara's government and the Turkish delegation covered multiple areas of cooperation, Shaibani said. Discussions focused on lifting U.S. sanctions against Syria, expanding economic and trade ties, strengthening intelligence and military coordination, and facilitating refugee returns. Officials also addressed counterterrorism efforts, preventing an Islamic State resurgence, and developing a joint vision for northeastern Syria.
Syria's goal remains implementing genuine integration while preserving territorial integrity as a single, undivided entity, Shaibani emphasized. Damascus seeks to prevent any division or creation of administrative privileges that would undermine Syrian sovereignty, he said.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
