Syria’s government has accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces of breaking a newly announced ceasefire, raising fears that hopes for a political deal could quickly collapse. Moreover, officials said multiple attacks killed several soldiers just a day after a four day truce was declared to reduce fighting in the northeast. These incidents came at a sensitive moment when talks were meant to begin over integrating Kurdish forces into the central state. As a result, the fragile calm now faces serious uncertainty.
According to Damascus, a drone strike hit a captured military base while Syrian troops were securing explosives, killing seven soldiers and marking what it called a dangerous escalation. However, the SDF strongly denied carrying out any drone attack and blamed the blast on explosives being moved by government forces. In addition, the group accused the Syrian army of launching attacks in different areas despite the truce. This clash of claims has deepened mistrust on both sides.
Read more : Conflicting claims after Islamic state prison escape
Later, the Syrian government said a total of 11 soldiers had been killed and 25 wounded in what it described as coordinated SDF attacks on army positions. Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led force did not comment on those wider accusations, sticking to its claim that it had not broken the ceasefire. The agreement had been reached after days of government advances threatened to overrun the last main Kurdish-held cities. Therefore, the renewed violence could undo hard won progress toward talks.
The truce is part of a broader push by Damascus to end years of Kurdish autonomy in the northeast, an area that holds most of Syria’s oil and energy resources. Furthermore, this region is also home to Arab and Kurdish communities, making stability there vital for the country’s future. Turkish leaders have backed the government’s efforts, demanding the SDF lay down its arms and disband to avoid further bloodshed. At the same time, Ankara views the group as linked to militants it has long fought.
Read more : At UN, Pakistan welcomes Syria’s cooperation on chemical …
The United States, which once relied on the SDF to defeat Islamic State fighters, has urged the group to accept the government’s offer while focusing on the fate of thousands of detained militants. Recently, US forces began moving some Islamic State prisoners from Syria to Iraq to reduce security risks. However, Washington has also signaled that its partnership with the SDF is no longer essential under the new political situation. This shift has left the Kurdish group under growing pressure.
For now, Syrian troops remain positioned outside the Kurdish-held cities of Hasakah and Qamishli, waiting for further orders as reinforcements stay nearby. Although their advance has paused, the presence of tanks and fighters shows that a return to fighting remains possible. Therefore, the next steps will depend on whether both sides can restore trust and honor the ceasefire. Until then, the future of northeast Syria hangs in the balance.