Syrian Government Forces Advance into Kurdish-Held Territories Amid U.S. Calls for Restraint

Syrian government forces have advanced into Kurdish-held territories in northern Syria, capturing key towns and escalating tensions in the region. The Syrian army entered the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew to avoid further conflict. State media reported that two soldiers were killed near Maskana amid the violence, despite an agreement intended to prevent such encounters.

The SDF accused the Syrian government of violating the withdrawal agreement by entering the towns prematurely. In response, a U.S. delegation visited Deir Hafer to mediate, and Admiral Brad Cooper urged de-escalation. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced the withdrawal of fighters east of the Euphrates. Kurdish Iraqi leader Masoud Barzani mediated between the SDF and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, resulting in planned talks in Irbil with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack.

Meanwhile, al-Sharaa issued a decree granting cultural rights to Kurds, including recognition of Kurdish as a national language and Newroz as a national holiday. However, Kurdish leaders argue these rights should be enshrined in Syria’s constitution for lasting protection.

The escalation follows intense fighting earlier this month between the government and the SDF, raising the prospect of a government push toward Raqqa, the largest city administered by Kurdish authorities. Raqqa became globally emblematic of the Syrian conflict after the Islamic State seized it in 2014 and declared it the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate. The city was devastated during the U.S.-backed campaign to defeat the jihadist group and has since remained under SDF control, with a small American military presence in the region.

After the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Kurdish-led forces have been hesitant to submit to the new government’s authority. For nearly a year, the two sides have engaged in negotiations over the integration of Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the new Syrian state, but those talks have stalled in recent months.

The renewed clashes capped weeks of violence that have amounted to some of the most intense fighting since the end of the civil war in December 2024, when Mr. al-Sharaa’s coalition of rebel groups ousted the Assad regime.