ALEPPO/WASHINGTON – The precarious peace in northern Syria is unraveling. On Saturday, what was supposed to be a coordinated handover of the town of Deir Hafer turned into a military offensive that has caught Washington off guard.
The “Goodwill” Trap The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from Deir Hafer under a US-brokered arrangement intended to build trust with the post-Assad government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. However, instead of stopping at the agreed lines, Syrian government forces surged forward, capturing the strategic Tabqa Airbase and the Al-Thawra oil fields.
Strategic Implications Analysts believe Damascus is testing the limits of US commitment. By declaring the area west of the Euphrates a “closed military zone,” the Syrian government is effectively challenging the semi-autonomous status of the Kurdish region. For the US, this is a nightmare scenario: a conflict between two of its nominal partners in the fight against ISIS. If the US fails to restrain Damascus, the SDF may view this as a second betrayal, potentially destabilizing the entire northeast.