By Atoun Jan
Qamishli, Syria (North Press)-
In a dramatic turn on August 9, 2025, Damascus announced it would withdraw from planned talks in Paris with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), citing their recent “Unity of Position” conference in Hasakah as a violation of the crucial March 10 integration agreement . Government sources denounced the gathering as an attempt to “internationalize” Syrian affairs and accused it of undermining national unity .
What’s at the heart of the dispute? The March 10 deal—involving interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi—was crafted to fuse SDF forces into state institutions, secure minority rights, and establish a cease-fire . Still, deep divisions remain: Damascus insists integration happens individually, while the SDF wants to retain its structure as a collective military bloc .
The Hasakah conference, attended by over 400 representatives—including Kurds, Druze, Alawites, Syriac-Assyrians, Turkmen, and Armenians—called for sweeping democratic reforms. Delegates demanded a decentralized federal system and a constitution that guarantees pluralism . Still, Damascus rejected these proposals as contrary to national cohesion, viewing them as incompatible with the spirit of the March 10 accord .
Security tensions continue to mount. Reports of fresh clashes—from Aleppo to Deir ez-Zor and Suweida—threaten fragile truces across the country . The SDF accused government-linked factions of endangering civilians through repeated infiltrations .
Meanwhile, Turkey is playing a prominent regional role. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent visit to Damascus reaffirmed Ankara’s backing for Syria’s transitional authorities and its opposition to any autonomous Kurdish entity .
Despite persistent setbacks, there remains cautious diplomatic activity and sporadic progress. Both sides publicly reaffirm the goals of the March 10 deal, and there are hints of potential compromise on issues such as cultural rights and decentralization—though no breakthrough has been realized so far .
In short, Syria’s path to post-Assad unity is fraught: deep mistrust, conflicting visions of governance, and ongoing local clashes have derailed progress—even as both sides profess adherence to a framework of reconciliation.