Syria's Government Takes Back Land: What's Next for the Kurds?

Syria's government has taken control of large areas in the north and east of the country. These areas were once held by Kurdish forces. This change happened quickly. It brings almost all of Syria back under the control of the central government in Damascus. The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have had tensions for months. The government wanted the SDF to join its security forces. The SDF refused. They wanted to keep their own rule in the regions they control. This month, the Syrian army took over Kurdish-run parts of Aleppo. They then moved eastward. This forced the Kurdish fighters to pull back. The areas taken by the government include important places. These places have oil fields, a big dam, farms, and prisons holding Islamic State militants. The SDF had captured these areas from Islamic State. The U. S. had supported the SDF in this fight. But the U. S. never backed the Kurds' goal of having their own autonomous region.The U. S. has close ties with Turkey. Turkey sees the Kurdish YPG as a threat. The U. S. has lifted sanctions on Syria. It has also welcomed Syria into a coalition against Islamic State. A ceasefire was agreed on January 20. It gives the SDF four days to plan how to merge with the government. If a deal is reached, the government will not enter two Kurdish-held cities: Hasakah and Qamishli. The future of Syria is uncertain. The government and the Kurds have very different ideas. The government is led by a former al Qaeda commander. The Kurds follow secular leftist and feminist ideas. All sides want to avoid more fighting. But the situation is complex. The ceasefire leaves many details to be worked out. The main issue is how much control the central government will have over the remaining Kurdish areas. Turkey has its own interests in Syria. It launched a peace process with the PKK in early 2025. Turkish officials hope recent events will push this process forward.