Damascus, DZWatch – Questions are mounting regarding the fate of the agreement signed on March 10th between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as the deadline for its implementation approaches at the end of this month. Recent clashes in Aleppo have cast further doubt on the feasibility of meeting the agreement’s terms within the stipulated timeframe.
Relative calm has returned to Aleppo following the clashes between the Syrian Army and the SDF, which, according to the Aleppo Health Directorate, resulted in 4 deaths and 9 injuries. These clashes occurred at a sensitive time, just before the deadline for implementing the agreement to integrate the SDF into the Syrian government. The timing also coincided with a high-level Turkish delegation’s visit to Damascus, which included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, as well as the head of Intelligence.
Despite differing views on who initiated the clashes, analysts agree on the severity of the timing. However, the situation was eventually contained, and a ceasefire was announced between the warring parties. According to political analyst Muayyad Ghazlan Qablawi, there was no justification for the clashes in a densely populated civilian area of Aleppo. He suggested the SDF aimed to send a message to the Syrian government and Turkey, demonstrating their ability to destabilize civilian areas. Qablawi added that Damascus, on the other hand, does not want to escalate the situation militarily, especially given ongoing negotiations mediated by the US and Turkey, with international oversight.
Qablawi further explained that the SDF did not respond diplomatically or politically to the statements made during a press conference attended by the Turkish delegation in Damascus, which addressed the political vision of the March 10th agreement. He noted that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the integration of the SDF into Syrian state institutions should occur through dialogue, a view shared by his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani.
Qablawi accused the Syrian Democratic Forces of failing to complete any of the stages of the March 10th agreement, and not respecting the terms.
