In a statement, Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the military wing of the Kurdish Self-Administration in northeastern Syria, rejected any division projects that threaten Syria's unity.

Who are the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)?

The SDF defines itself as a national alliance for all Syrians, comprising Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, and Assyrians. However, reports on the ground reveal that the backbone of this military coalition is predominantly Kurdish, with Arab and Assyrian participation largely driven by coercion. This occurred after Kurdish forces took control of government centers in northeastern Syria during the Syrian revolution, with U.S. support helping the Kurds to pursue their dream of establishing a Kurdish state. This American military aid enabled them to control state institutions in the region.

The SDF participated in battles against the ISIS organization in coordination with the international coalition and various moderate Syrian Islamist factions. The defeat of ISIS was not solely due to the SDF's efforts, but also a result of the airstrikes by the international coalition and the involvement of the moderate Syrian Islamist factions.

The Kurds and the Dream of Division

To better understand this issue, we must study the historical land of Syria, its ancient peoples, and their long-standing presence. Kurds, like others, have always lived as part of Syria alongside other nations such as Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians, Canaanites, and Arabs, who form the majority of Syria's population. Throughout history, Syria has been a land of coexistence where its diverse inhabitants lived together, speaking their own languages and celebrating their holidays. For example, Assyrians in eastern Syria observed Sundays as their official holiday, Jews took Saturdays off, and Muslims had Fridays as their official day of rest. Arabic was the classical language used in universities, schools, and government institutions.

Although the Kurds are an integral part of Syria, they are not the only ethnic group in the country. Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Arabs, and Jews were among the earliest ethnic groups to settle in Syria. The Kurdish calls for separation from Syria might jeopardize justice and equality for the other components of the Syrian population.

In addition to the fact that northeastern Syria has an Arab and Assyrian Christian majority, the creation of new borders within Syria could lead to endless military conflicts between Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmens, and Syriacs, all of whom may seek independence and establish separatist states. It is not unlikely that Assyrians might seek European Christian support to separate from areas controlled by the Kurds in northeastern Syria.

Therefore, separation in the Levant means endless wars and conflicts.

Political and Economic Consequences of Kurdish Separation

The Kurdish separation from Syria carries not only political and geographical consequences but also economic ones. The areas the Kurds seek to separate from Syria are rich in natural resources like oil and water. The intentions of the SDF became evident when they demanded 20% of Syrian oil during meetings with the new leadership. This demand was unjustifiable, as oil is a national Syrian resource meant to benefit all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

Western Attraction: A Political Tactic

Some leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces have long used the tactic of pleading for help to present themselves as victims of conflicts they did not choose, repeating stories of persecution and marginalization by the Syrian regime. They exaggerated their suffering, claiming they were victims of genocide by the Syrian government. However, it is clear to observers that the Syrian regime has committed genocide and oppression against all sectors of the Syrian population, without differentiating between Muslims, Christians, Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds, Syriacs, or Armenians.

One of the exaggerated examples is the suffering of the Kurds in areas that were under ISIS control. While everyone in the region was suffering from ISIS attacks, the Kurds were portrayed as the primary target of the organization.

Through this narrative, Kurdish parties sought military and financial support against ISIS, presenting themselves as the "ideal allies" in the fight against terrorism, which was originally a U.S. creation.

From Fighting Terrorism to Fighting the Syrian People and Smuggling Weapons to ISIS

While the Kurds sought Western support, especially from the U.S., they lost the support of countries like Armenia and Turkey, which view Kurdish groups as extensions of the PKK and consider them a national security threat. Recently, Turkey launched several attacks on PKK sites, while the SDF announced through media outlets that they would organize a civil protest at the Tishrin Dam, citing the need to protect the dam, an area currently engulfed in conflict. According to many sources, the SDF plans to involve civilians and use them as human shields, threatening workers and civilian employees with penalties, such as depriving them of their rights or deducting part of their salaries if they refuse to participate in the protest.

On July 1, 2025, civilian casualties were reported following a Turkish military strike on areas under SDF control. Some sources stated that the victims were civilians who had been informed to attend the protest, making them targets for Turkish forces. The SDF continues to use ISIS as a card to show the West their role as the hero fighting terrorism, exploiting military and financial support from the U.S. and Europe. After the international coalition distanced itself from the SDF, fearing it would be marginalized after Assad’s potential fall, witnesses reported large quantities of weapons being smuggled to ISIS through the Rassafa area in southwestern Raqqa by SDF-linked agents, aiming to recreate the old scenario and present themselves internationally once again as the West's alternative for fighting terrorism in the Middle East.

The Talks Between the New Government and the SDF Leadership

The results of the talks were clear:

No division of Syria in any form, and no federalism will be allowed.

Syria will not serve as a platform for PKK attacks on Turkey, as Syria's security is an extension of Turkey's security.

The Question: Who Will Protect the Syrians?

The question arises: Who will protect the Arab Syrians, the Kurds who oppose separation, and the Assyrians in northeastern Syria from the crimes committed by the SDF? These include theft, looting, random shootings at civilians—women and children—and the kidnapping of young men. The bodies of civilians who were killed were left in the streets in rural Aleppo, and the Assyrian Christian homes were seized by SDF self-administration leaders.

Netanya Muradchai - Levant