Soldier from Syria met his demise in the recent skirmishes against SDF forces.
The fragile truce between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo has once again been tested, with both parties blaming each other for the latest outbreak of violence.
The latest incident occurred on August 3, when the SDF launched a rocket attack on Syrian army positions near the Euphrates, causing injuries to four soldiers and three civilians. The SDF also attempted to infiltrate government positions in the east of Aleppo overnight.
This attack, which took place near Manbij in Aleppo province, represents a challenge to Damascus, indicating ongoing tensions within the broader cooperation framework. The SDF appears concerned about losing Russian support, which it relied on to replace dwindling U.S. backing.
The March 10, 2025 agreement between caretaker President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi aimed at cooperation, particularly against Assad loyalist insurgents, has not been able to end the conflict between the Syrian government and the SDF. Sporadic attacks, like the August missile strike by the SDF in Manbij, demonstrate ongoing tensions.
The March agreement included a ceasefire and a plan to integrate all civil and military institutions in north-east Syria into the state by the end of the year. Discussions aimed at bringing the SDF under national army control and initiating a peaceful government takeover of areas under Kurdish control have been ongoing.
However, the SDF has demanded Syria be governed under a federal system following a Kurdish conference held the month after the March 10 agreement. The Syrian government, led by al-Sharaa, expresses hope to avoid broad military conflict with the SDF and aims to integrate them more into the state framework to reduce clashes, but this remains fragile and unsteady.
The Syrian Defence Ministry urged the SDF to abide by agreements signed with the Syrian state and to halt infiltration attempts, shelling, and provocations in Aleppo and the nearby countryside. The ministry reported that violent clashes erupted, and they responded according to their rules of engagement.
The Kurdish issue is crucial to stability in Syria, especially after waves of sectarian tension in Alawite and Druze areas of Syria over recent months. The failure of a meeting between President Ahmad Al Shara and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi under US auspices in July has escalated tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF.
The Syrian army foiled the infiltration attempt by the SDF and forced them to retreat in the latest incident, setting back hopes of maintaining the truce agreed in March. The Syrian President and Kurdish militia leader have not met since July, contributing to the escalation of tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF.
The current conflict situation in Aleppo remains complex, marked by continued mistrust, shifting alliances, and regional geopolitical influences such as Russian and Turkish involvement, which complicate the stability of this agreement and the conflict overall.
- The latest news from Syria highlights ongoing tensions between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo, as the SDF's August 3 rocket attack on Syrian army positions escalates war-and-conflicts in the region.
- Despite the March 10, 2025 agreement aimed at cooperation between the caretaker President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi, general-news suggests that the fragile truce between the Syrian government and the SDF has not managed to end the conflict.
- The Syrian Defence Ministry's calls for the SDF to abide by agreements and halt provocations signal the link between politics and the ongoing conflict in Syria, as international player's involvement, such as Russia and Turkey, adds complexity to the regional politics.
