Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand guard in Raqqa, Syria on February 7, 2022. File photo: AP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday accused “militants” affiliated with Damascus of launching a drone strike against one of their military outposts in northern Syria, the latest accusation of a violation of their March ceasefire.
“A drone belonging to Damascus government militants targeted one of our military points in the Deir Hafer area this afternoon,” the US-backed SDF said in a statement on X, adding that the attack caused no casualties or material damage.
The SDF stated that they "immediately and precisely responded to the sources of fire, achieving confirmed hits that forced the attackers to retreat.
“Our forces affirm their full readiness to repel any aggression, and our response will always be decisive against anyone who tries to target our positions and fighters,” it added.
The fight for Deir Hafer
The district of Deir Hafer is a strategic area located in eastern Aleppo province. It remains largely under SDF control.
In recent weeks, Damascus-affiliated factions have intensified efforts to seize Deir Hafer as it would enable them to open a logistical corridor to Raqqa province in north-central Syria. It would also allow them to put military pressure on the SDF in other regions crucial for the Kurdish forces’ operations, including Tishreen Dam and Qere Qozaq bridge, both on the Euphrates River.
In mid-August, the Kurdish-led forces accused Damascus-affiliated groups of repeatedly violating the ceasefire signed between SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on March 10. That deal saw them agree to integrate “all civil and military institutions” in Rojava under the administration of the Syrian state and to enforce a “ceasefire across all Syrian territory.”
Last week, the SDF said they repelled "infiltration attempts and artillery attacks" from groups "affiliated with the Damascus government" in Deir Hafer, and warned that "any further attempts at aggression will be met with a decisive response that safeguards our region’s security and preserves the dignity of its inhabitants."
The Syrian defense ministry has put the blame on the SDF, claiming that they “targeted” Syrian army positions in eastern Aleppo, including Deir Hafer.
The ministry noted that “two SDF-affiliated groups attempted to infiltrate Syrian Arab Army positions in the Tal Ma'az area” and accused the force of “continuing to target army deployment sites in the Deir Hafer and Manbij areas.”
It urged the SDF to “adhere to the agreements signed with the Syrian state,” namely the Abdi-Sharaa deal.
Stalled agreement
As tensions between the SDF and Damascus continue to escalate, difficulties in implementing the March 10 agreement persist. The two sides are at odds over the interpretation of the term integration. While the SDF seeks to join the Syrian forces as a unified bloc, Damascus prefers to individually absorb and assimilate Kurdish fighters into the national army.
In an interview with Syrian state TV last week, Sharaa claimed that the SDF “does not represent all Kurds.” He warned the Kurdish-led forces that any attempt to separate from Syria will not succeed.
The SDF has not called for independence or separation.
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