On Thursday, a senior Syrian Kurdish official was in Washington and met with US officials who told her that the US would continue its military presence in eastern Syria.
“Recently, everybody thought the United States would withdraw but they were clearly saying they would stay as long as the Islamic State presence persisted,” Ilham Ahmed told Reuters.
Ahmed is a leader of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who the US support in eastern Syria.
The US uses ISIS as an excuse to stay in Syria, but its occupation and support for the SDF is part of the broader campaign against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. Most of Syria’s oil fields are in the region of Syria where the US has its presence, and the occupation keeps the vital resource out of the hands of Damascus.
On top of the military presence, the US maintains crippling economic sanctions on Syria that specifically target the energy and construction sectors, making it difficult for the country to rebuild. Last week, after Jordan reopened its border in Syria, the State Department said the US has no plans to normalize or improve relations with Damascus.
Ahmed signaled that the SDF might be open to talks with the Syrian government. “Countries like Russia also made preparations to assist for a healthier dialogue with the Syrian regime,” she said. The SDF has previously warned Washington that it could join forces with Assad if the US pulls its troops out of Syria.
Caution should be exercised when you read the word “democratic” in association with Syrian Kurdish military or “political” leaders. This is not a democratic organization. How can real democracy be based on ethnic cleansing of other people? I am for Kurdish rights, but please spare me the propaganda. See the flowery language used to describe Ilham Ahmed, who wants a much bigger US military intervention in Syria:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Elham_Ehmed
The US won’t leave until it suffers attacks, or faces credible threat of attacks starting.
Attacks wouldn’t be a reason to leave, they’d be an excuse for staying.
SDF foes not have support in population. YPG had support, an offshoot of PKK. But it has been dismantled following US withdrawal, and Syrian government takeover of Kobane, and deals on disarmament. And after deal was reached for Turkish-Russian patrol of Syrian-Turkish border, routing YPG out of Afrin — YPG lost support, and was no longer supported by US, as Turkey drew a bright red line.
But US kept US funded SDF. Fake organization with no support, focusing on Syria, attracting mercenaries. And operating in areas where there are no Kurds. They are stationed exclusively along US positions, not having any function in Kurdish community. Why would Kurdish population trust them?
But for now they are providing the optics that serves Biden right. Big and bad in Syria. Strong after Afghanistan. Etc.
But Jordan reopened borders for trade, Syria. A number of Arab embassies active. There is nothing US can do to block change. Even had to give exemptions to Lebanon as sanctions were hurting its economy.
For now, unless something changes — US position in Syria is going nowhere. Regional meeting in Baghdad, Saudi-Iran rapprochement — massive changes in the region are underway. So, it is staying in place as things are sorted out.