Trump envoy, Syria’s Sharaa discuss Aleppo violence
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Saturday met with the Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, discussing the ongoing clashes between the Kurdish fighters and the Syrian Arab Army in Aleppo.
Barrack said in a statement that he held the meeting on behalf of US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which he discussed “developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.”
Clashes erupted between Kurdish fighters, also known as Asayish, in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Masqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo on Tuesday. Both sides trade blame for the fighting. Despite efforts by regional and Western countries to end the conflict, violence has continued, except for a brief ceasefire aimed at giving both sides time to negotiate.
The Syrian Arab Army claimed on Saturday that it had concluded the operation after controlling both quarters, but Asayish said the fighting continues in Sheikh Maqsood.
“President Trump recognizes this moment as a pivotal opportunity for a new Syria — a unified nation in which all communities, including Arab, Kurdish, Druze, Christian, Alawite, Turkmen, Assyrian, and others, are treated with respect and dignity and afforded meaningful participation in governance and security institutions,” read the statement by Barrack.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls the Kurdish region in northeast Syria (Rojava), signed an integration agreement with the new Syrian government in March. Barrack said the deal “provides a framework for incorporating SDF forces into national institutions in a manner that preserves Kurdish rights and strengthens Syria’s unity and sovereignty.” However, he added that the developments in Aleppo “appear to challenge the terms of this agreement.”
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities,” he said.
“Secretary Rubio’s team stands ready to facilitate constructive engagement between the Syrian government and the SDF to advance an inclusive and responsible integration process — one that respects Syria’s unity, upholds the principle of a single sovereign state, and supports the goal of one legitimate national military,” said the statement.
SDF was in control of both Kurdish-majority neighborhoods from the early days of the Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011. The Kurdish-led force left the quarters and handed them over to Asayish, which is one of its affiliates, as part of a second agreement with Damascus on April 1. The agreement was exclusive to the two neighborhoods. Both sides swapped hundreds of prisoners as part of the deal.
Barrack urged both sides to return to dialogue in accordance with the April agreement.
Barrack said in a statement that he held the meeting on behalf of US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which he discussed “developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.”
Clashes erupted between Kurdish fighters, also known as Asayish, in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Masqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo on Tuesday. Both sides trade blame for the fighting. Despite efforts by regional and Western countries to end the conflict, violence has continued, except for a brief ceasefire aimed at giving both sides time to negotiate.
The Syrian Arab Army claimed on Saturday that it had concluded the operation after controlling both quarters, but Asayish said the fighting continues in Sheikh Maqsood.
“President Trump recognizes this moment as a pivotal opportunity for a new Syria — a unified nation in which all communities, including Arab, Kurdish, Druze, Christian, Alawite, Turkmen, Assyrian, and others, are treated with respect and dignity and afforded meaningful participation in governance and security institutions,” read the statement by Barrack.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls the Kurdish region in northeast Syria (Rojava), signed an integration agreement with the new Syrian government in March. Barrack said the deal “provides a framework for incorporating SDF forces into national institutions in a manner that preserves Kurdish rights and strengthens Syria’s unity and sovereignty.” However, he added that the developments in Aleppo “appear to challenge the terms of this agreement.”
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities,” he said.
“Secretary Rubio’s team stands ready to facilitate constructive engagement between the Syrian government and the SDF to advance an inclusive and responsible integration process — one that respects Syria’s unity, upholds the principle of a single sovereign state, and supports the goal of one legitimate national military,” said the statement.
SDF was in control of both Kurdish-majority neighborhoods from the early days of the Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011. The Kurdish-led force left the quarters and handed them over to Asayish, which is one of its affiliates, as part of a second agreement with Damascus on April 1. The agreement was exclusive to the two neighborhoods. Both sides swapped hundreds of prisoners as part of the deal.
Barrack urged both sides to return to dialogue in accordance with the April agreement.