Syria’s northern conflict deepens as interim government refuses talks with SDF

The future of Syria’s political landscape appears increasingly uncertain as negotiations between the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remain stalled.

SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi reiterated his desire for the incorporation of the SDF into a future Syrian state. However, despite Abdi’s repeated calls for negotiations since the fall of the Assad regime, HTS has not yet engaged in direct talks, Caliber.Az reports citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Abdi outlined his conditions for potential negotiations, stating that any discussions would require the cessation of Turkish and Turkish-backed attacks on the SDF, ensuring Syrians can freely deliberate their future without “external interference.”

However, HTS, which is not directly controlled by Türkiye but has increasingly aligned itself with Turkish interests, does not appear eager to enter into talks with the SDF. The HTS-led government's deepening cooperation with Türkiye, particularly after the fall of the Assad regime, has raised doubts about the feasibility of any meaningful dialogue between the two factions.

This tension comes amid growing fears of a Turkish military escalation in northern Syria. On December 27, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Türkiye would ensure security "beyond its southern borders" and eliminate what it considers "terrorist threats," starting in 2025.

Abdi has warned of a looming catastrophe for Kobani, with Turkish forces reportedly building up troops on the Syrian border. Turkish military reinforcements were confirmed to have arrived in Suluk, a town located north of Raqqa in the Syrian National Army (SNA)-controlled territory.

Meanwhile, clashes between the SDF and the SNA continue. On December 27, SNA forces sent reinforcements to the frontlines near Tishreen Dam in the Manbij countryside, where local sources reported ongoing engagements between the two factions. The SDF claimed to have engaged SNA forces near Abu Qalqal, also in the Manbij area. The SDF has also continued its advance southwest of Lake Assad into territory controlled by the SNA, further escalating tensions between the rival factions.

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The SDF’s recent progress south of Tishreen Dam, including the reported capture of the Khafsah water treatment plant on December 23, is notable. The plant, which serves Aleppo City, is reportedly not operating at full capacity due to nearby fighting. As a result, the Aleppo Water Establishment has urged citizens to ration water usage amid the ongoing conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva