Syria’s army seizes northern territory from Kurdish forces amid stalled integration deal and new language decree, with both sides reporting casualties.
DEIR HAFER: Syria’s army has seized large areas of the country’s north, dislodging Kurdish forces from territory they held for over a decade.
The advance follows a presidential decree recognising Kurdish as a national language. Government troops took control of areas east of Aleppo and the strategic city of Tabqa over the weekend.
Information Minister Hamza Almustafa announced the capture of Tabqa and the Euphrates Dam via the official SANA news agency. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claimed they had taken measures to restore stability in the city.
Clashes were reported in several locations, with both sides trading blame for violating agreements. The army said four soldiers were killed, while Kurdish forces reported several fighter deaths.
The SDF accused Damascus of betraying recent agreements, leading to clashes south of Tabqa. The army urged the SDF to fulfil its commitment to withdraw east of the Euphrates River.
Kurdish authorities imposed a curfew in Raqa after the army designated a nearby area a closed military zone. SANA reported the SDF destroyed two bridges over the Euphrates in Raqa city.
On Friday, President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s decree formally recognised Kurdish rights for the first time since 1946. It made Kurdish a national language and granted nationality to all Kurds.
The Kurdish administration called it a first step that did not satisfy aspirations. “We want constitutional recognition of the Kurdish people’s rights,” said Shebal Ali, a resident of Qamishli.
Analyst Nanar Hawach said the decree offers cultural concessions while consolidating military control. The US and France have called for de-escalation and a ceasefire in the region.
