Washington refuses to withdraw its forces from Syria as SDF try to get close to Damascus fearing its reconciliation with Ankara

The United States reiterated its refusal to withdraw its forces from Syria, justifying this by its desire to continue fighting the terrorist organization ISIS and preventing its return.

At the same time, it expressed opposition to holding municipal elections planned by the Kurdish Autonomous Administration in areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF).

According to Ethan Goldrich, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, the United States doesn’t intend to withdraw its forces from Syria.

He explained that one of the goals of US policy in Syria is to confront the ISIS organization and prevent its return, along with its commitment to implement Resolution 2254 on a political solution in the country.

Goldrich claimed that US policy in Syria also seeks to reduce human suffering, increase aid flows, maintain ceasefires, and prevent the spread of violence.

However, reports indicate that ISIS is launching attacks on Syrian army forces from areas controlled by US forces, which continue to exploit Syria’s oil, gas and wheat resources.

Despite these allegations, the US official accused the Syrian government of not cooperating in the implementation of Resolution 2254, stressing that the United States won’t normalize its relations with Damascus, and even called on others not to normalize with the Syrian government by saying, “We don’t support normalization with Damascus”.

Goldrich reiterated his country’s opposition to the holding of municipal elections by the Autonomous Administration in northeast Syria, which the Syria Democratic Forces plan to hold next August, noting that the current conditions aren’t suitable for free, fair and transparent elections in Syria.

In a related context, the German envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, called on the Autonomous Administration to protect the basic rights of Syrians, expressing concern over the arrest of members of the Türkiye-backed Kurdish National Council in the city of Qamishli by militants of the Revolutionary Youth of the Syria Democratic Forces.

Schneck stressed in a tweet on X, that the need for the Autonomous Administration to respect the basic rights of individuals who express different political positions and ideas and noted that Syrians in northeastern Syria and throughout the country deserve to enjoy basic rights and freedoms.

In an earlier statement, the Kurdish National Council in Syria called on the United States to condemn the attacks by the “Revolutionary Youth” and militants of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) on a sit-in organized by the Council to demand the release of detainees in the party’s prisons.

The party later released leaders of the Kurdish National Council who had been arrested during the sit-in.

The statement pointed out that the gunmen of the “Revolutionary Youth” kidnapped more than twenty supporters and members of the Council, including leaders of the presidency and the General Secretariat and women from the families of the kidnapped.

All abductees were released hours after they were detained.

In the other context, In light of the growing news that meetings between the Syrian government and its Turkish counterpart are imminent, the Kurdish “Autonomous Administration” launched an attack on the Syrian government through official statements and media statements.

The Kurds fear that the outcome of this potential reconciliation will be an end to their experience in northeastern Syria.

These fears increased after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Iraq, where he obtained Baghdad’s approval to include the PKK on Iraq’s terrorist list and expressed openness to an Iraqi initiative to broker a reconciliation with Damascus.

The Kurds believe that Erdogan seeks to use this change in the Iraqi position to get a similar stance against the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Autonomous Administration, which could be the price of normalization with Syria.

They also believe Türkiye is seeking to complete the safe strip project on the border with Iraq and Syria this summer.

The SDF believes that there is an attempt to form a regional alliance between Türkiye, Syria and Iraq against Kurdistan and the Autonomous Administration, which could open the borders for the Turkish army to carry out operations against the Kurds.

The Kurdish warnings point to a “grand conspiracy” against Syrians, accusing Ankara of committing violations and occupying parts of northern Syria.

Kurdish media are focusing on highlighting the potential negative effects of reconciliation on northern and eastern Syria, as Kurdish leaders have intensified their statements denouncing normalization plans.

Ilham Ahmed, head of the Autonomous Administration’s foreign relations department, said, “any understandings between Ankara and Damascus will be against the Syrian people”.

As for Hassan Kojar, deputy co-chair of the executive board of the administration, stressed that the Türkiye wants to use all parties to achieve its agenda, warning Damascus against an alliance with Ankara, and stressing that the people of northeastern Syria will resist any alliance with Türkiye.

On the other hand, the Kurds demanded that Damascus confirm that it won’t ally with the Turks against them, and sent positive signals through mediators about their readiness for dialogue and reaching clear agreements.

Despite the presence of US forces in the region, which complicates the Kurdish decision, the Autonomous Administration feels that it is the weakest link in light of regional and international moves towards Syrian-Turkish reconciliation.

The Autonomous Administration believes that it should start a serious dialogue with the Syrian government and work with it to remove any Turkish pretexts to launch new attacks on their areas, stressing the need to learn from previous experiences and not rely on the United States, and to engage in a settlement that may bring them gains in light of the upcoming changes in the Syrian crisis.