Discussions begin on US and French troops securing northern Syria border

Talks are underway regarding the potential deployment of US and French troops to secure a border zone in northern Syria, aimed at easing tensions between Türkiye and Western-backed Kurdish Syrian forces, according to a senior Kurdish official from Syria.

Türkiye has threatened to launch a cross-border operation into northeastern Syria targeting the Kurdish YPG militia unless the group complies with Turkish demands, Caliber.Az reports citing Reuters.

Ankara views the YPG, which leads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization connected to the Kurdish PKK militants, who have waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state. The SDF played a pivotal role in the defeat of Islamic State (IS) forces in Syria between 2014 and 2017 and still guards IS detainees in prison camps, but has been on the defensive since the rebels ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated earlier this week that Paris would not abandon the SDF, which was part of a broader opposition coalition during Syria’s 13-year civil war.

Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of foreign affairs for the Kurdish administration in northern Syria, told TV5 Monde, "The United States and France could indeed secure the entire border. We are ready for this military coalition to assume this responsibility." She added, "We ask the French to send troops to this border to secure the demilitarized zone, help us protect the region, and foster better relations with Türkiye."

It remains unclear how receptive Türkiye would be to such an arrangement, given Ankara’s years-long efforts to secure its border from threats originating in Syria and its determination to eliminate the YPG.

Ahmed expressed, "As soon as France has convinced Türkiye to accept its presence on the border, then we can start the peace process. We hope that everything will be settled in the coming weeks." A source familiar with the discussions confirmed that talks are ongoing but declined to elaborate on the details or feasibility of the plans.

The US has been facilitating ceasefire negotiations between Turkish-backed groups and the SDF following clashes triggered by the rebel advance on Damascus, which led to the ousting of Assad.

During a press conference in Paris with outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot indicated that discussions on the matter are taking place. "The Syrian Kurds must find their place in this political transition. We owe it to them because they were our brothers in arms against Islamic State," Barrot said. He also stressed, "We will continue our efforts to ensure that Türkiye's legitimate security concerns are addressed, but also the security interests of Syria’s Kurds, and their full rights to participate in the future reconstruction of their country."

Blinken emphasized the importance of ensuring that SDF forces continue to oversee the detention of over 10,000 IS militants, which remains a critical security concern for both the US and Türkiye. "We have been working very closely with our ally, Türkiye, to navigate this transition. It’s a process that will take some time," Blinken remarked.

The US maintains approximately 2,000 troops in Syria, working alongside the SDF to prevent a resurgence of IS. A French official confirmed that France still has dozens of special forces on the ground, a legacy of their earlier support to the SDF when Paris provided weapons and training.

By Tamilla Hasanova