President Barzani urges de-scalation, halt to fighting between Syrian forces, SDF

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - President Masoud Barzani on Sunday expressed hope for a rapid de-escalation and for the ongoing fighting between Syrian state forces, affiliated factions, and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to "come to a halt as soon as possible," calling on all parties to uphold existing accords to resolve disputes.

"We hope that the fighting, tensions, and ongoing escalation between the Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] will come to a halt as soon as possible," President Barzani said in a statement released by his office, urging "all parties to adhere to existing agreements to resolve disputes and achieve stability among the Syrian factions."

The preeminent Kurdish leader on Saturday met with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, SDF Chief Mazloum Abdi, and Mohammed Ismail, leader of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) - an umbrella group of Kurdish parties in northeast Syria (Rojava). 

In the statement put out by his office, President Barzani said “the important joint meeting” falls “within the framework of efforts aimed at addressing the crisis” in Syria.

The Kurdish leader’s remarks come in the wake of a statement by the SDF - the de facto military force in Rojava - accusing Damascus and allied militant groups of attacking their forces as they prepared to withdraw from areas in eastern Aleppo and the Raqqa countryside.

The Kurdish-led forces said the escalation occurred despite the presence of an internationally sponsored truce agreement, which granted them “a 48-hour withdrawal period,” according to an SDF statement on X.

Since then, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) has reported that the Syrian Arab Army has taken control of all areas west of the Euphrates River, including Deir Hafer and Maskanah in eastern Aleppo, as well as Tabqa in western Raqqa countryside.

Earlier in the day, SDF Chief Abdi stated, “Despite all our attempts to halt the escalation and pursue de-escalation, attacks by [Damascus state and affiliated forces] are ongoing.”

Speaking to the Rojava-based Hawar News Agency (ANHA), Abdi condemned what he described as "systematic attacks" against Kurdish-administered areas, while reaffirming, "Our efforts to achieve de-escalation and a ceasefire are continuing with the assistance of international parties."

"We call on our people to rally around their sons among our [Kurdish] fighters and to show courage and faith," Abdi concluded.

Amid the escalation, the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava had on Sunday announced a state of “general mobilization” in support of the SDF and the affiliated Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), citing what it described as “an existential war” waged by Damascus and affiliated militant groups in violation of an internationally mediated truce.

In a statement, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) said that "factions affiliated with the interim Damascus government" have violated an internationally mediated truce, "launching attacks on our forces on multiple fronts since yesterday [Saturday] morning until now [Sunday]."

"Accordingly, we call on our people to respond to the general mobilization declared by the [Democratic] Autonomous Administration [of North and East Syria] and to stand alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] and the Women’s Protection Units [YPJ]," the DAANES urged, warning, "We must understand that we are facing an existential war."

Interestingly, Damascus and affiliated armed groups are pressing ahead with their military advance into DAANES-administered territories, in violation of the internationally mediated truce, just a day after Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a "special decree" on Friday purportedly guaranteeing the Kurdish people’s "rights and certain particularities."

President Masoud Barzani on Sunday praised the decree concerning Kurdish rights as "a positive step," while hoping that it will serve as a foundation for guarantees of Kurdish rights built on solid legal and constitutional grounds.

Last updated at 3:13 pm.