Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) logo (left) and Syrian defense ministry logo (right). Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday denied accusations that they targeted a Syrian security forces outpost east of Aleppo, after Damascus’s defense ministry earlier accused the Kurdish-led forces of carrying out a “drone” attack that wounded three army soldiers.
In a statement posted on X, the SDF said it “categorically denies the allegations contained in a statement issued by the Media and Communication Directorate of the [Syrian] defense ministry regarding the targeting of a military police checkpoint near the town of Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo.”
The statement added that “no activities, movements, or military operations” were carried out by the SDF in the Deir Hafer area on Monday, describing the ministry’s claims as “completely fabricated and suspicious,” and accusing Damascus of seeking to “create pretexts and justify an unjustified escalation.”
The Kurdish-led forces further held the defense ministry’s Media and Communication Directorate “fully responsible for the consequences” of its statement and affirmed that they “remain committed to restraint and the existing channels” of communication with Damascus.
Earlier in the day, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the Directorate as claiming that the SDF had “targeted a military police checkpoint using drones near the army’s deployment points in the vicinity of Deir Hafer,” as part of what it described as the SDF’s “ongoing escalation against army positions in various parts of the country.”
According to the Directorate, “the attack wounded three Syrian Arab Army soldiers” and “damaged two military vehicles.” The Syrian army “will respond to this aggression in an appropriate manner,” the defense ministry’s media affiliate added.
Later in the day, the Kurdish-led forces issued a follow-up statement clarifying that what had been perceived as an SDF-led "drone attack" was, in fact, a "traffic accident involving a civilian car and a vehicle belonging to the military police" of the Damascus factions.
The statement added that the incident had been "exaggerated and misrepresented in an attempt to fabricate a security narrative without any foundation," reaffirming the SDF's "commitment to self-restraint, to the existing channels, and to avoiding being drawn into attempts at synthesized escalation."
The accusation against the SDF came despite renewed engagement between the Kurdish-led forces and Damascus over integration negotiations a day earlier.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi on Sunday led a high-profile delegation to Damascus - including Sipan Hamo, a member of the Kurdish-led force’s general command, and Sozdar Derik, a senior commander of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) - an all-female SDF affiliate - to participate in the crucial talks.
The meeting was part of a broader effort to integrate civil and military institutions in northeast Syria (Rojava) into state structures, in line with the March 10 agreement reached between Abdi and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
From the Syrian side, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama reportedly attended the meeting, while Sharaa was notably absent.
The talks were also reportedly attended by Brigadier General Kevin Lambert, commander of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.
In an early December interview with Rudaw, a senior SDF commander criticized “politicized” remarks by Syrian officials in the media, saying they lacked “national credibility.”
Abu Omar al-Idlibi, a senior commander in the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - added that “Syria’s future cannot be shaped through media posturing, but through a serious national dialogue that respects the rights and aspirations of all Syrians.”
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