Latest news with #NortheastSyria
LBCI
6 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
As tensions rise, fate of Syria's SDF hangs in the balance
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Mariella Succar Following the recent unrest in Sweida, questions have resurfaced about the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia based in northeastern Syria. Before the outbreak of violence in Suwayda, the SDF's path toward integration into the Syrian state had already faced major obstacles. The group has maintained several key demands: political recognition of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, preservation of its military structure, and its incorporation into state institutions without disarmament. However, the Syrian government's position remains firm. Damascus has repeatedly rejected any federal or autonomous governance model, viewing it as a step toward partitioning the country. The government also opposes the idea of the SDF retaining its weapons. That was the status quo before the Sweida clashes. Did the events there alter the trajectory of SDF's potential integration into the Syrian state? According to several analysts, the unrest in Sweida has not derailed the integration process but has further complicated it. The SDF reportedly sees the escalation as justification to double down on its demands for political and security guarantees, particularly concerning the preservation of its military forces. These concerns were echoed by SDF military spokesperson Abgar Daoud, who stated that in light of ongoing tensions, rising violence, and renewed threats from ISIS, disarming the group is not an option. In the end, and according to observers who spoke to LBCI, a military confrontation remains on the table if efforts to disarm the SDF fail—especially with Turkey now involved. Ankara views the SDF as a direct threat to its national security. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently warned, 'If you seek to divide and destabilize [the region], we will consider it a direct threat to our national security and we will intervene.' Despite the heightened tensions and mutual distrust, military action remains a last resort for both Turkey and Syria. For now, the door remains open for negotiations, which both sides may still view as the least costly path forward.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Syrian Girl, 8, Walks Overnight to Escape Shelling, Save the Children Protects Childhoods Amid War as Aid Becomes a Race Against Time
Photos: HONG KONG, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With shells drawing near and only minutes to escape, what would you save? "I was forced to leave everything behind – my toys, my clothes, all the things I loved," said 8-year-old Syrian girl Amal. In the harsh winter of 2024, she and her family walked for two days to flee the conflict, carrying nothing but the thin clothes on their backs. Food, water, shelter, and even a sense of security were all unwillingly left behind. A Tent for a Home: A Childhood Rewritten by War In 2018, war first forced Amal from her home, relocating her to a camp in Northeast Syria. In December 2024, as the conflict escalated once more, she and her family were forced to flee overnight. "The road was filled with the sounds of explosions and roaring planes. I saw some children freeze to death in the wilderness... We could only desperately push forward," recalled Amal's father, Hasan. Describing the two-day trek in the bitter cold, he said, "The children suffered immensely. They kept crying, begging to go home, but there was nothing we could do. We abandoned all our possessions just to save our lives. "Still shaken, Hasan remembered, "We adults were terrified too, but for the sake of our children, we had to stay strong." Since December 2024, the escalating conflict in Syria has displaced over 15,000 families. This is the third time Amal has been displaced in her short eight years; her "home" has shrunk to a tent that could vanish at any moment. What Amal left behind was more than just a house—it was her childhood. She misses the home with apple and orange trees, and the friends she played hide-and-seek with every day. Now, all of that is out of reach. Despite this, Amal holds on to a dream, "One day, I want to become a doctor and help children when they are sick." The war has stolen what should have been a carefree childhood—no school, no peaceful nights, not even a predictable tomorrow. What Would You Save?— Save the Children Supports Children's Survival Needs When Amal's family arrived at the new camp, exhausted, the Save the Children team immediately provided them with Ready-to-Eat kits, hygiene kits, blankets and mattresses to fend off the cold winter nights, addressing their most urgent needs as an initial response. However, life in the tent remains a struggle. "When it rains, the tent leaks, and we can't sleep. When it's windy, we're cold, scared, and shivering." Amal shared. Since 2012, Save the Children has provided aid to 8.3 million people in Syria, including 4.8 million children like Amal, offering food, clean water, emotional and psychosocial support, shelter, healthcare, and education services. Kalina Tsang, CEO of Save the Children Hong Kong, stated, "Whenever a conflict or disaster strikes, children are always the first to bear the brunt. They lose not just their belongings, but also their health, safety, education, a secure environment to grow up in, and a precious, fulfilling childhood. The Children's Emergency Fund was established to ensure that children in crisis receive the support they need to survive—from basic food and warmth to medical care, from a safe place to live to physical and psychological support. We appeal to the public to extend a helping hand and support children in distress." In 2024, Save the Children's humanitarian work has helped over 20 million people worldwide, including 12.8 million children. The organisation has also provided support in humanitarian crises such as the conflict in Ukraine, the escalation of conflict in Lebanon, and the earthquake in Myanmar. Please support Save the Children's emergency relief work: About Save the Children Hong Kong Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Hong Kong and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world's first and leading independent children's organisation – transforming lives and the future we share. Established in 2009, Save the Children Hong Kong is part of the global movement which operates in around 100 countries. We work with children, families, schools, communities and our supporters to deliver lasting change for children in Hong Kong and around the world. Visit our website, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Save the Children Hong Kong
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Syrian Kurdish commander says group in direct contact with Turkey, open to Israel ties
"We have direct ties, direct channels of communication with Turkey, as well as through mediators, and we hope that these ties are developed," the commander said. The commander of Kurdish forces that control northeast Syria said on Friday that his group is in direct contact with Turkey and that he would be open to improving ties, including by meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The public comments represented a significant diplomatic overture by Mazloum Abdi, whose Syrian Democratic Forces fought Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels during Syria's 14-year civil war. Abdi denied accusations that the SDF was in contact with Israel. "People have accused us of this. In this interview, I am saying publicly that we have no ties with Israel," he said. But he said his group supported good ties with Syria's neighbors. When asked if that included Israel, Abdi responded, "with everyone." Turkey has said the main Kurdish group at the core of the SDF is indistinguishable from the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which decided earlier this month to disband after 40 years of conflict with Turkey. Abdi told regional broadcaster Shams TV in an interview aired on Friday that his group was in touch with Turkey, without saying how long the communication channels had been open. "We have direct ties, direct channels of communication with Turkey, as well as through mediators, and we hope that these ties are developed," Abdi said. There was no immediate comment from Turkey on Abdi's remarks. He noted his forces and Turkish fighters "fought long wars against each other" but that a temporary truce had brought a halt to those clashes for the last two months. Abdi said he hoped the truce could become permanent. When asked whether he was planning to meet Erdogan, Abdi said he had no current plans to do so but "I am not opposed... We are not in a state of war with Turkey and in the future, ties could be developed between us. We're open to this." The Al-Monitor news website reported on Friday that Turkey had proposed a meeting between Abdi and a top Turkish official, possibly Turkey's foreign minister or its intelligence chief. A Turkish diplomatic source denied the report, saying "the claims about Turkey and our country's authorities" in the story were "not true," without elaborating. In December, Turkey and the SDF agreed on a US-mediated ceasefire after fighting broke out as rebel groups advanced on Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Abdi in March signed a deal with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to incorporate the semi-autonomous administration of northeast Syria into the main state institutions based in Damascus. On Thursday, Erdogan accused the SDF of "stalling" implementation of that deal.
LBCI
31-05-2025
- General
- LBCI
Syrian Kurdish commander in touch with Turkey, open to meeting Erdogan
The commander of Kurdish forces that control northeast Syria said on Friday that his group is in direct contact with Turkey and that he would be open to improving ties, including by meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The public comments represented a significant diplomatic overture by Mazloum Abdi, whose Syrian Democratic Forces fought Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels during Syria's 14-year civil war. Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
31-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrian Kurdish Commander in Touch with Türkiye, Open to Meeting Erdogan
The commander of Kurdish forces that control northeast Syria said on Friday that his group is in direct contact with Türkiye and that he would be open to improving ties, including by meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The public comments represented a significant diplomatic overture by Mazloum Abdi, whose Syrian Democratic Forces fought Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian opposition during Syria's 14-year civil war. Türkiye has said the main Kurdish group at the core of the SDF is indistinguishable from the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which decided earlier this month to disband after 40 years of conflict with Türkiye. Abdi told regional broadcaster Shams TV in an interview aired on Friday that his group was in touch with Türkiye, without saying how long the communication channels had been open. "We have direct ties, direct channels of communication with Türkiye, as well as through mediators, and we hope that these ties are developed," Abdi said. There was no immediate comment from Türkiye on Abdi's remarks, according to Reuters. He noted his forces and Turkish fighters "fought long wars against each other" but that a temporary truce had brought a halt to those clashes for the last two months. Abdi said he hoped the truce could become permanent. When asked whether he was planning to meet Erdogan, Abdi said he had no current plans to do so but "I am not opposed... We are not in a state of war with Türkiye and in the future, ties could be developed between us. We're open to this." The Al-Monitor news website reported on Friday that Türkiye had proposed a meeting between Abdi and a top Turkish official, possibly Türkiye's foreign minister or its intelligence chief. A Turkish diplomatic source denied the report, saying "the claims about Türkiye and our country's authorities" in the story were "not true", without elaborating. In December, Türkiye and the SDF agreed on a US-mediated ceasefire after fighting broke out as rebel groups advanced on Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Abdi in March signed a deal with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to incorporate the semi-autonomous administration of northeast Syria into the main state institutions based in Damascus. On Thursday, Erdogan accused the SDF of "stalling" implementation of that deal. In the interview, Abdi denied accusations that the SDF was in contact with Israel. "People have accused us of this. In this interview, I am saying publicly that we have no ties with Israel," he said. But he said his group supported good ties with Syria's neighbours. When asked if that included Israel, Abdi responded, "with everyone."
