Senior AANES official says Syria’s political transition cannot come at Kurds’ expense
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), said on Thursday that any political transition of power in Syria cannot take place at the expense of the Kurdish people or other minorities, while reaffirming the AANES’ commitment to political dialogue.
Ahmad made the remarks in response to statements by several members of the U.S. Senate, thanking Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim Risch for their support. “Thank you for your critical support,” she said.
She added that Syria’s transitional government is demanding that the AANES dismantle its defensive structures, “while simultaneously launching brutal and cruel attacks against Kurdish people in Aleppo.”
Ahmad stressed that the AANES remains “committed to dialogue,” but said this does not mean accepting a transition of power in Syria “at the expense of Kurdish people and other minorities who fought alongside America against ISIS.”
“Your clear messages provide hope that our partnership and sacrifices will not be forgotten,” she said, expressing appreciation for U.S. support for “your allies in the darkest of times.”
On Wednesday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, said he supports giving Syria’s new government an opportunity, but emphasized that he will not “tolerate or accept a brazen attack against our Kurdish allies, who are the main force in destroying the ISIS caliphate.”
In a post on the X platform, Graham said he supports Senator Jim Risch’s call for de-escalation in Syria, while placing clear responsibility on the new Syrian government that human rights violations against minorities will not be tolerated.
Graham said he was particularly concerned by what he described as “credible reports” suggesting that Syrian forces, along with Turkey, could advance against U.S.-allied Kurdish forces, warning that such a move “would invoke a strong reaction from the United States.” He urged both the Syrian government and Turkey to “choose wisely” at this stage.
For his part, Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was deeply concerned by the conduct of armed forces in Aleppo last week, calling on the Syrian transitional government to hold those responsible for these horrific acts accountable.
Risch stressed that the role of Syria’s new government and its armed forces, after years of war, should be to protect the inherent rights of its citizens, not violate them.