The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia vital in dismantling the Islamic State’s control over territory in Syria, has announced plans to establish communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni jihadist group that has recently consolidated power in Syria following the exit of longtime president Bashar Assad. HTS emerged as a dominant force after a successful military campaign that culminated in the capture of Aleppo and subsequent advances toward Damascus, prompting Assad to seek refuge in Russia, where he has been granted asylum by President Vladimir Putin. HTS, an offshoot of al-Qaeda led by former ISIS operative Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., which has put a $10 million bounty on Jolani’s arrest.
The civil war in Syria has seen numerous factions clash over the past decade, and while HTS now holds substantial territory, conflict continues, particularly in northern regions where the SDF finds itself under threat from a Turkish-backed Sunni militia known as the Syrian National Army (SNA). This group launched an offensive dubbed “Dawn of Freedom” aimed at displacing the Kurdish population and eliminating the SDF from northern Syria; recent reports suggest that this operation has led to the displacement of approximately 120,000 people. Amid these developments, the SDF leadership is proactively seeking dialogue with HTS to forge a potential alliance, highlighting previous agreements that delineate territorial respect between the two factions.
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi communicated that HTS has assured the SDF that they are not targets of HTS military operations, which is crucial for the SDF as they consider their next strategic moves. He revealed plans for Kurdish political representatives to engage directly with HTS in Damascus as part of efforts to maintain open lines of communication and to potentially negotiate a role within the new governance structure being touted by HTS following the collapse of the Assad regime. HTS has appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as the prime minister of a transitional government while asserting its intention to create an inclusive administration, albeit one that will likely adopt aspects of political Islam. Given that a significant portion of Syrian Kurds identify as Sunni Muslims, there may be a pragmatic basis for HTS’s assurance towards the Kurdish population.
In a symbolic gesture toward this new political landscape, Kurdish authorities raised the Syrian rebel flag in their regions, representing both a reconciliation with the new power dynamics and a bid for legitimacy within a transitioning Syria. Kurdish political leaders expressed solidarity with the fall of Assad’s government while cautiously hoping for a new national identity that would include Kurdish representation and rights. The SDF’s generally non-confrontational stance during the civil war could yield an opportunity for Kurds to engage politically as the country moves away from a regime infamous for its repression of minority groups, including Kurds.
However, the renewed focus on collaboration between the SDF and HTS is tempered by warnings from Abdi regarding the emerging threat posed by the Islamic State in Syria following the “Dawn of Freedom” operation. He indicated that the SDF’s operations alongside American forces against ISIS have been disrupted, allowing the terrorist group increased mobility and influence in the region. There have been increased ISIS activities, including attacks on SDF members, exacerbating the security crisis and raising alarm about the safety of detention facilities for captured ISIS fighters. He noted that the security of these detention centers is now under significant threat due to the shifting power dynamics and lack of coordination.
As the SDF faces external pressure from the SNA and potential instability from the resurgent ISIS, the relationship between HTS and the SNA remains complex. While both are Sunni jihadist factions, their historical competition for resources complicates any cooperation between them. Analysts believe that HTS could attempt to reassert greater control over regions held by the SNA, thereby limiting Turkish influence and solidifying its own standing as the preeminent power in Syria. The evolving situation suggests that while the HTS-SDF dialogue may provide a temporary reprieve from violence, the broader landscape in Syria remains fraught with potential conflict and uncertainty, particularly as the regional balance of power continues to shift.
