The United States and Russia have been engaging with Turkey to halt attacks by Turkish-backed armed groups in northern and eastern Syria, particularly targeting the SDF. A temporary ceasefire has been declared in the areas of Tishreen Dam and Karakozak Bridge.
According to Channel8, following the return of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan from the United States, a delegation from Rojava met with Turkish officials at Incirlik Air Base in Ankara, with Washington present, to discuss Syria’s future and the role of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Salih Muslim, a member of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Presidential Council, stated on Channel8’s Target program that the discussions are being held under the supervision of the Global Coalition and are strictly military in nature.
“During the Assad regime in Syria and after the establishment of the cantons and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Turkey launched direct attacks on Kurdish forces in Rojava. It had previously targeted Kurdish forces through groups considered close to Turkey, and this continues to this day,” Muslim said.
International pressure, particularly from the Global Coalition, has reportedly led Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to soften his stance toward the SDF. Following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ankara agreed for the first time to integrate SDF forces into the Syrian Army, a move seen as an implicit recognition of the SDF and a withdrawal of all political objections against SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi.
Channel8 further reported that discussions during Hakan Fidan’s visit to the United States included the ceasefire between Turkey, Turkish-backed armed groups, and the SDF. Since Fidan’s return from Washington, no clashes have been reported between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups. Additionally, Sultan Murad Division and two other afactions have reportedly laid down their weapons and withdrawn from their positions in Afrin.
The process of disarmament is expected to continue, with Turkey and Turkish-backed groups anticipated to withdraw from Afrin, Serekani, Gire Spi, and several other areas of Syria, where an estimated 200 headquarters are located.
Meanwhile, under international pressure, Damascus has been working to implement the agreement for the past 20 days. The ceasefire is one of the eight key points agreed upon between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
