Syrian soldiers take control of an SDF military base in Raqqa, Jan. 19, 2026. (Credit: Bakr al-Kasem/AFP)
Within days, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa reclaimed nearly two-thirds of the territory held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forced their leader, Mazloum Abdi, to sign a new agreement. What initially appeared to be a masterstroke quickly ran into resistance, however, as hardline SDF factions refused to comply and chose to continue fighting.How did Sharaa prepare his move, and why could it ultimately fail? After speaking with several senior Syrian officials and regional diplomats, L'Orient-Le Jour reconstructs the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of an operation aimed at resolving the Kurdish issue. Need the context? After his coup de force, Sharaa imposes agreement on Kurds A plan months in the makingBy early this year, it had become increasingly clear to Sharaa that the SDF had no intention of implementing the March...
Within days, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa reclaimed nearly two-thirds of the territory held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forced their leader, Mazloum Abdi, to sign a new agreement. What initially appeared to be a masterstroke quickly ran into resistance, however, as hardline SDF factions refused to comply and chose to continue fighting.How did Sharaa prepare his move, and why could it ultimately fail? After speaking with several senior Syrian officials and regional diplomats, L'Orient-Le Jour reconstructs the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of an operation aimed at resolving the Kurdish issue. Need the context? After his coup de force, Sharaa imposes agreement on Kurds A plan months in the makingBy early this year, it had become increasingly clear to Sharaa that the SDF had no intention of implementing the March...
'American sponsorship is a guarantee,' says Lebanese-American coordination committee