The secrets meetings… How the SDF was dismantled and the areas handed over to the Syrian government under US supervision

It seems like that the series of secret and public meetings held in Damascus, Paris, and Iraq over the past weeks paved the way for Syrian government to quickly take control of large areas in northeastern Syria, amid an unprecedented US military and political retreat.

Washington described Syrian transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa as a brilliant strategist, noting that his ability to provide security guarantees regarding the fight against ISIS and border protection was the key to changing the US position.

On the other hand, a US diplomat confirmed that since the beginning of 2026, Washington has begun sending clear signals to the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) that unlimited military and political support has ended, and that the priority now is the unity of Syrian territory under the leadership of the new central government.

Damascus meeting According to Kurdish officials, January 4, 2026, witnessed a crucial meeting in Damascus between a delegation from the SDF and government officials.

Suddenly, the government side announced that the meeting had been closed and the talks were ended without reaching an agreement on the decentralization that the Kurds had been demanding.

This closure was the green light for the start of the Syrian military movement towards Manbij, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor.

Paris meeting: Accusations and Turkish green light Two Syrian officials reported that the recent Paris meeting witnessed great tension, as Damascus explicitly accused Israel of supporting the SDF militarily to obstruct the extension of state sovereignty over oil and gas fields.

In striking details, a Syrian source revealed to Reuters that a limited military operation was put forward against SDF positions during the Paris deliberations.

The US position: There was no substantive objection to the military action.

Turkish message: Ankara informed the parties that Washington tacitly agrees to the operation on the condition that the protection of Kurdish civilians is ensured and there is no mass displacement.

The US envoy Tom Barrack conveyed a shocking message to SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, during a meeting in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on January 17, stating that “Washington’s current strategic interests are with Sharaa and his government in Damascus, not with the SDF as an independent military entity!”