عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Arab-Kurdish Conflict Feared East of Euphrates, SDF Official Warns

Syria Democratic Forces fighters carry their weapons in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria in February, 2016. (Reuters)
Syria Democratic Forces fighters carry their weapons in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria in February, 2016. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Arab-Kurdish Conflict Feared East of Euphrates, SDF Official Warns

Syria Democratic Forces fighters carry their weapons in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria in February, 2016. (Reuters)
Syria Democratic Forces fighters carry their weapons in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria in February, 2016. (Reuters)

The region might be heading towards an Arab-Kurdish conflict that would affect coexistence, a prominent figure in Syria’s Democratic Forces (SDF) has warned.

SDF spokesperson Mustafa Bali accused ISIS elements of assassinating three tribal Sheikhs last week.

“After failing to carry out its criminal acts, ISIS resorts to causing Kurdish-Arab strife among regional components.”

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) also denounced the assassination of Sheikh Mutasher Jadaan al-Hafel and the injury of Leader of al-Agaidat tribe Sheikh Ibrahim Jadaan al- Hafel, describing the incident as “cowardly terrorist act.”

NES Chairman Abdul Hamid al-Mehbash has offered sincere condolences to the Agaidat tribe on Sheikh Hafel’s “martyrdom,” wishing the tribe’s leader speedy recovery.

“We denounce and condemn this cowardly terrorist act, which aims at sowing discord among components,” he stressed, noting that some parties have rushed to point fingers to the NES and its military forces.

Unidentified gunmen have assassinated the Sheikh and his diver Daar al-Khalaf on Monday, and injured Sheikh Ibrahim after opening fire on their convoy in the Hawayij village in Deir Ez-Zour’s eastern countryside.

Hafel was the third Arab tribal leader to be assassinated after Sheikh Suleiman al-Kassar on July 30 and Sheikh Ali Alwis of al-Baggara tribe on August 1.

The Internal Security Forces in Deir Ezzor launched probes and “will not rest until the perpetrators are arrested, handed over to justice and held accountable as soon as possible,” Mehbash stressed.

“We will work to bridge the security gaps and confront whoever tries to undermine regional stability.”

This terrorist act targets all components of northern and eastern Syria, he added, pointing out that it is a desperate and cowardly attempt to affect the coexistence and brotherhood among peoples to destabilize security.

Demonstrations took place against Hafel’s assassination as protesters blocked roads and targeted SDF security checkpoints.

The SDF, for its part, announced a partial ban on Shuhail town and launched a massive security crackdown.

In a statement on Wednesday, the SDF said it has arrested a number of terrorists and suspects, noting that some were injured during the operation.

It also revealed that two of its elements were killed during the operation

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
TT
20
TT

Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)

Scores of US-backed Kurdish fighters left two neighborhoods in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo Friday as part of a deal with the central government in Damascus, which is expanding its authority in the country.

The fighters left the predominantly Kurdish northern neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh, which had been under the control of Kurdish fighters in Aleppo over the past decade.

The deal is a boost to an agreement reached last month between Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast. The deal could eventually lead to the merger of the main US-backed force in Syria into the Syrian army.

The withdrawal of fighters from the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) came a day after dozens of prisoners from both sides were freed in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that government forces were deployed along the road that SDF fighters will use to move between Aleppo and areas east of the Euphrates River, where the Kurdish-led force controls nearly a quarter of Syria.

Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh had been under SDF control since 2015 and remained so even when forces of ousted President Bashar al-Assad captured Aleppo in late 2016. The two neighborhoods remained under SDF control when forces loyal to current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured the city in November, and days later captured the capital, Damascus, removing Assad from power.

After being marginalized for decades under the rule of the Assad family rule, the deal signed last month promises Syria’s Kurds “constitutional rights,” including using and teaching their language, which were banned for decades.

Hundreds of thousands of Kurds, who were displaced during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, will return to their homes. Thousands of Kurds living in Syria who have been deprived of nationality for decades under Assad will be given the right of citizenship, according to the agreement.

Kurds made up 10% of the country’s prewar population of 23 million. Kurdish leaders say they don’t want full autonomy with their own government and parliament. They want decentralization and room to run their day-to day-affairs.