Clashes broke out in Syria on Monday between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as tensions between Damascus and the Kurds continue to escalate.
Fighting erupted in Aleppo after government troops loyal to President Ahmed al-Sharra blocked off the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, areas held by SDF forces. Heavy exchanges of fire were reported throughout the day. Additional clashes occurred in the countryside near Manbij, with unconfirmed reports of artillery duels along the line of contact in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.
By late Monday, reinforcements from Idlib and Hama had converged on Aleppo, cutting off roads near Kurdish-controlled districts.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense released a statement blaming the SDF for the outbreak of violence, accusing them of violating the March 10th Agreements — a deal that was meant to bring the Kurdish-controlled territories under Damascus’ authority.
The March 10th Agreements, signed earlier this year between the Syrian government and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), stipulated that SDF units would be integrated into the Syrian army and that the AANES would merge politically with the central government.
However, the agreement stalled, and last month al-Sharra issued an ultimatum giving the SDF and AANES until the end of the year to comply or face “consequences.” Kurdish officials have rejected the deadline, calling it coercive and unilateral.
The renewed clashes come just days after last-ditch U.S.-mediated talks aimed at salvaging the March 10th deal collapsed on October 3rd. Washington, long the protector of Kurdish forces in Syria, now appears to be encouraging the Kurds to reconcile with al-Sharra’s government — a shift likely influenced by the improved U.S.-Damascus relationship and the looming full withdrawal of American forces from Iraq by September of next year, which may see the end of U.S. troops in Syria as it is from Iraq that American troops are supplied.