What Israel stands to lose in Syria-SDF agreement
The agreement signed Jan. 18 for the integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state will bolster not only Turkey, Israel’s foe, but also President Ahmed al-Sharaa while he negotiates a security deal with Israel.
Israel is concerned that Tuesday’s ceasefire deal between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces will not only strengthen its long-standing rival Turkey and increase its regional influence, but also lend a boost to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
US President Donald Trump praised Sharaa on Tuesday following their phone call on Monday, feeding fear in Israel that Washington's pressure to reach a security agreement with Damascus will only increase. "The president of Syria is working very, very hard,” Trump told reporters in a lengthy press conference Tuesday, adding, “Strong guy, tough guy. Pretty rough resume, but you're not going to put a choir boy in there."
The Syrian sides reiterated Tuesday that they were committed to the 14-point deal, which grants Syrian government forces control over vast areas previously held by the SDF while Kurdish-led forces retain limited local administrative authority. The agreement came after clashes earlier this month between Syrian government forces and Kurdish militants in two neighborhoods of Aleppo and a subsequent swift advance by government troops into SDF-held areas of northeast Syria.
Ceasefire strengthens Sharaa
