Illustrative image. (Syrian Democratic Forces)
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that its fighters repelled early on August 4 another attack by factions affiliated with Syria’s Islamist-led interim government in the northern governorate of Aleppo.
The attack targeted four positions of the SDF close to the village of al-Imam in the eastern Aleppo countryside, according to the Kurdish-led group, which rules vast parts of Syria’s northern and eastern regions with direct support from the United States-led coalition.
“Our forces responded to the attack with the necessary force to defend their positions and fighters, with clashes lasting for 20 continuous minutes,” the SDF’s media office said in a statement.
“We affirm that this repeated attack represents a premeditated escalation and threatens stability in the region. We hold the Damascus government fully responsible for this action. We affirm that our forces are more prepared today than ever to exercise their legitimate right to respond with full force and determination,” it added.
There was no comment from Damascus, which a day earlier accused the SDF of sparking clashes in the eastern Aleppo countryside by shelling its military. The group rejected these accusations and said that government forces were responsible.
The SDF signed a breakthrough deal with the government last March to integrate into state institutions. Nothing has been achieved in this regard so far.
In recent weeks, tensions mounted between the government and the SDF with each side accusing the other of not showing enough commitment.
In an interview with the SDF-affiliated Hawar News Agency published on August 4, the group commander-in-chief SDF Mazloum Abdi said that the March agreement was “necessary” in light of the ongoing tensions in Syria and the region at the time.
“Integration means partnership. Between all Syrians, between Syria’s components, and between all existing administrations, a new Syria must be built on the basis of a new partnership. This cannot be imposed by force, and from the beginning, we have opposed any attempt to impose it by force,” Abdi told the Kurdish-Syrian news agency.
“This must be achieved through understanding. It is essential that we dialogue together and come together. All components of Syria must reach an agreement,” he added.
Despite these generally positive remarks, the SDF appears to be heading towards a dangerous confrontation with Damascus.
Turkey, the main ally of the Syrian government, will most likely intervene as it views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and deems it a threat to its national security.
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under slogan “return is a right…no to forgetting. no to compromise” | al-shahbaa political forum launched in al-raqqah on aug 4, 2025 share al-shahbaa political forum was launched today in al-raqqah city under the slogan “return is a right…no to forgetting. no to compromise.” the forum was attended by activists, displaced people from al-shahbaa area and political and human rights characters from different areas across syria.
the forum highlights the cause of forcible displacement from al-shahbaa area, including al-bab, azaz, jarabulus, tel aran and tel hasel, and discusses ways to restore rights and securing safe return of displaced people. the forum agenda included a welcoming speech followed a political speech by ilham ahmed, the co-chair of the foreign relations department of the autonomous administration, and a representative of the kurdish front
forces leadership, as well as a historical overview of the al-shahbaa region.the forum will also address three main discussion points: forcible displacement as a systematic crime (its goals and perpetrators). the suffering of displaced people inside and outside the country. the right of return and accountability from a political and national perspective. the forum is planned to conclude with a final statement summarising the key recommendations and proposals agreed upon.
the kurds have every right to demand power in syria.