Calm in Damascus Contrasts with Ongoing Conflicts in Northeast Syria

While Damascus sees a relative calm with President Ahmed al-Shara promoting national unity, northeastern Syria remains embroiled in conflict. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and a Turkish-backed militia are engaged in ongoing battles, exacerbating instability post-Assad’s regime. This turmoil poses significant challenges for the interim government in its quest for national cohesion and control over various armed factions.

In the midst of relative calm in Damascus, Syria, the newly appointed interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, is striving to unify the nation while extending his authority across the country. He recently hosted a national unity conference and welcomed foreign dignitaries, allowing citizens to express themselves freely, a rare occurrence in recent decades.

However, substantial turmoil persists in northeastern Syria, approximately 400 miles from the capital, where intense battles have continued unabated for years. Drones and airstrikes contribute to a perilous situation, forcing thousands to abandon their homes. The region’s conflict sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, clash with a predominantly Syrian Arab militia backed by Turkey.

Tensions escalated after Islamist rebels deposed the long-standing dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. The strife holds considerable implications for President al-Shara’s efforts to unify Syria, regulate its diverse armed groups, and contain the resurging threat of the Islamic State, which is re-emerging across various regions of the country.

Significantly, the conflict carries high stakes for Syria’s Kurdish population, constituting about 10 percent of the nation’s people. Over the years, the Kurdish community has established a semi-autonomous region in the northeast amid rising tensions with the Turkish government, which perceives Kurdish factions as a domestic threat and opposes their push for independence.

The ongoing conflict in northeastern Syria presents a significant challenge for the new interim government, highlighting the complexities of ethnic and sectarian divisions. While Damascus experiences a semblance of stability, the battles in the northeast threaten to undermine any efforts toward national unity. The Kurdish situation remains precarious, illustrating the delicate balance that the new leadership must navigate in pursuing peace and security across the nation.

Original Source: www.nytimes.com