Senior Commander of Syrian Kurdish Forces: Agreement with Damascus is Inevitable

The spokesperson for the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian Kurdish militia supported by the US-led coalition, told AFP that reaching an agreement with Bashar al-Assad's government to create an autonomous region in northern Syria is unavoidable. Redur Khalil, a senior commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) currently fighting ISIS, also stated that Kurdish armed forces must remain in the area. Recent developments follow Donald Trump's announcement that US military forces will withdraw from Syria. The US has supported various militia groups in Syria during ground battles against the so-called Islamic State, with Kurdish militants in the YPG forming the core of the SDF. However, Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group, has engaged in conflict with it, and has repeatedly warned that it will not accept their presence near its borders. Nevertheless, large areas of the Turkish-Syrian border are under Kurdish control. A senior Kurdish official stated on January 4 that Syrian Kurds are trying to reach a political agreement with the Assad government through Russian mediation, regardless of the status of US troop withdrawal. Khalil indicated to AFP that there is a high likelihood of reaching an agreement: "We cannot avoid finding a solution between the autonomous [Kurdish] government and the Syrian government, as the areas [under our control] are part of Syria." Earlier in January, it was reported that after Kurdish militants requested protection from the Syrian government for the city of Manbij against "Turkish threats," the Syrian army announced it would send troops to the city. Khalil told AFP that "negotiations with the Syrian government to reach a final formula regarding the administration of Manbij are ongoing." The Associated Press also quoted an unnamed Kurdish official stating that they have reached an understanding with the Syrian government to "confront any force intending to occupy Syria, especially its northern parts." Although Turkey is not directly mentioned, it is clear that the main concern is countering the Turkish army or its supported militias. Russia and Iran are key supporters of Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey supports a group of anti-Assad militants. These three countries have also engaged in joint negotiations leading to agreements, including the establishment of so-called "de-escalation zones." The US and Israel are calling for the complete withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria. The Associated Press also referenced a report from Asharq Al-Awsat indicating that a senior YPG commander traveled to Damascus and Moscow, where they proposed to hand over border security to the Syrian government in exchange for Russian guarantees that the autonomous regions would be administered by the Kurds. None of these statements have yet been officially confirmed or denied by the governments of Russia or Syria. These developments come as John Bolton, the US National Security Advisor, travels to Israel and Turkey to discuss the US military withdrawal from Syria and confront Iran's behavior in the region. The Syrian civil war began eight years ago following a severe crackdown on largely peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad's government. At least half a million people have been killed, and more than half of the country's population has been displaced. Large parts of Syria, including its economic and even historical centers, have been devastated during this war.