Syrian troops threaten offensive against Kurdish towns to pressure SDF in stalled talks, as US urges de-escalation and tribes await orders.
DAMASCUS: Syrian government forces are preparing to attack towns held by Kurdish fighters in the north and east, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The move aims to pressure autonomy-seeking Kurds into making concessions during deadlocked talks with the Damascus government.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) head Mazloum Abdi announced the group would withdraw its forces from contact lines east of Aleppo on Saturday.
Syria’s defence ministry welcomed the SDF’s decision to withdraw and said it would monitor implementation.
The Syrian military earlier stated its shelling had begun against militia bases linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The United States has urged both sides to avoid a showdown and return to negotiations.
Months of talks last year aimed to integrate Kurdish-run bodies into Syrian state institutions by the end of 2025.
Little progress was made by the deadline, leading to clashes in Aleppo last week.
A broader confrontation now looms, according to three Syrian officials, two Kurdish figures and three foreign diplomats.
A senior military official said as many as five Syrian army divisions could join an offensive targeting Kurdish-held towns.
If the tactic fails, Syria’s army is considering a full-scale campaign that could end Kurdish semi-autonomy.
Syrian army units deployed this week to the town of Deir Hafer and surrounding villages west of the Euphrates River.
The military has ordered SDF fighters to withdraw east of the river and opened a humanitarian corridor.
Some residents told Reuters they had to flee on foot as the main road was shut, a claim the SDF denied.
Other Syrian troops were sent to a front line in remote Deir el-Zor province, home to key oil fields.
SDF representative Abdel Karim Omar stated the group is against any military confrontation due to its grave risks.
He said efforts were underway with foreign mediators to revive negotiations.
Three diplomats and an SDF official said Washington had not explicitly opposed a limited Syrian operation.
The SDF official added that the US was not doing enough to prevent a clash.
US envoy Tom Barrack said Washington was working to lower the temperature and prevent escalation.
A State Department spokesperson said both sides should avoid pushing Syria back into violence.
The messaging underscores Washington’s effort to balance its backing for the SDF with support for President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa accused the SDF of obstructing US policy and taking orders from the PKK.
Speaking on state TV, Sharaa said the SDF had taken no practical steps to implement last year’s integration pact.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the SDF must show good intentions by unilaterally leaving the Deir Hafer area.
Fidan warned that the use of force is an option for the Syrian government if dialogue fails.
If fighting spreads to Deir el-Zor, it could draw in local Arab tribes who complain of marginalisation.
Shayesh al-Mulhem, a leader of the Jabbour tribe, said it was awaiting orders from Sharaa to turn against the SDF.
“The SDF is doomed to disappear,” al-Mulhem said. – Reuters
