ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday said that armed groups backed by Turkey and aligned with Damascus have carried out more than 22 attacks in northeast Syria (Rojava), in violation of a ceasefire agreement, and called for an immediate halt to the attacks.
“The factions supported by Turkey and operating under the umbrella of the Damascus Government continue to commit repeated violations of the ceasefire in several areas, including Deir Ezzor, Deir Hafer, the Tishreen Dam, and Tal Tamir,” the SDF said in a statement.
“These factions have attacked areas of North and East Syria for more than 22 times, using heavy weapons, launching ground assaults, and attempting to cross the Euphrates River to target our bases in Deir Ezzor,” it added.
The most recent incident took place on Friday evening when armed individuals on the Damascus-controlled side of the Euphrates River "targeted four civilians" on the riverbank, the SDF said on Saturday. The injured, including a 12-year-old child, were taken to hospital.
After an incident last week, the federal defense ministry blamed the SDF, saying that their forces were responding to fire.
The SDF said these attacks contradict the deal signed on March 10 between Damascus and Rojava and an April agreement about administration of Kurdish neighbourhoods in Aleppo. It said it was ready for dialogue and called on Damascus and its affiliated factions to "immediately cease all violations and adhere to the terms of the agreement."
Tensions are rising between Rojava and the government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Damascus on Saturday canceled planned negotiations with the SDF in Paris after Rojava hosted representatives of the country’s minority groups for a unity conference where they called for changes to the transitional constitution that cements authoritarian rule.
The Paris talks were to rejuvenate stalled negotiations on implementing the March 10 agreement to fold the SDF and Rojava institutions into state structures and recognize the Kurds as an integral part of Syria. The negotiations have hit an impasse as the Kurdish leadership have demanded decentralization, which Damascus rejects as separatism.
Syria’s minority communities have concerns about their future in the country and decisions made by interim President Sharaa and his Islamist-led government. Hundreds of Alawites and Druze have been killed in clashes with state-aligned forces since Sharaa’s government came into power.
