YPG draws red line on disarmament as Syria talks stall again

Tensions are mounting between Kurdish forces and the Syrian government as fresh talks over the future of Syria’s northeastern territories face renewed obstacles.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), largely dominated by the YPG militia, have firmly rejected Damascus’ conditions for disarmament, calling them a non-negotiable "red line," Caliber.Az reports, citing Arab media.

Damascus refuses to allow the Kurdish-led groups to retain their weapons as part of any agreement to reintegrate the autonomous administration into the Syrian state. The source stressed that any insistence on maintaining an independent military bloc runs counter to the principles of a unified national army.

"Talks about refusing to surrender weapons and insisting on the formation of a military bloc are a completely unacceptable proposal and contradict the principles of creating a unified national army and the agreement signed between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in March last year," the source stated.

Despite multiple rounds of negotiations since the signing of the initial agreement, tangible progress remains elusive. According to reports, a scheduled meeting between a Syrian government delegation and Kurdish officials in Paris was postponed on July 24, underscoring the fragility of the dialogue.

Kurdish official Badran Jia Kurd urged Damascus to reconsider its strategy, calling for "a comprehensive and urgent review of its approach to solving the problems of Syria's internal regions."

In a defiant interview, Farhad Shami, head of the SDF Media Center, reinforced the YPG’s position.

“Handing over weapons is a red line; it is not possible to hand over weapons,” Shami said.

“When we go to Damascus, naturally, we go with realistic proposals that not only serve the SDF but that serve Syria,” he added, noting that the SDF seeks to join the army as “a bloc.”

The Damascus source rejected what it described as attempts to “use the events in Suwayda or [clashes in] the coast to justify refusing to align under the state's banner,” saying such arguments “reflect blatant attempts to incite public opinion and distort the facts.”

Clashes erupted in Suwayda on July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, escalating into a broader conflict. At least 1,300 people have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, with strikes targeting Syrian state forces and the defence ministry building in Damascus.

A ceasefire between Israel and Syria - brokered by Washington- was announced by US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and appears to be holding.

Damascus has come under fire for its response to the clashes, with Barrack saying Damascus should be held accountable for what happened in Suwayda.

The European Union condemned the violence in southern Syria, calling for a “transparent, credible and impartial investigation, and for all perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to be held accountable and brought to justice – including with the support of relevant international mechanisms.”

By Vafa Guliyeva