Mainstream media has already begun referring to Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former member of al-Qaeda and the former al-Qaeda-affiliate group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as the de facto leader of Syria.
Representing the European Union, German and French foreign ministers made a visit to Damascus to meet Ahmed al-Sharaa following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
The ministers expressed cautious optimism while urging the new Islamist-led leadership to uphold the rights of minorities, including Christians, Druze, Jews, Kurds, and Alawites.
Their trip signals a potential shift in international relations with Syria and hints at the possibility of normalizing ties with the country’s new rulers.
The new government has met with minority group representatives, offering assurances of protection, but skepticism remains high, particularly among the Kurds.
Concerns stem from HTS’s extremist roots, ongoing conflict, and the absence of similar guarantees from the Syrian National Army (SNA), another major Islamist faction viewed as a proxy for Ankara.
Turkey has also failed to provide such assurances, further deepening mistrust. Attacks on minorities exacerbate these fears. On December 25, thousands protested across Syria after a video surfaced showing an attack on an Alawite shrine in the north.
The arson of a Christmas tree in Al-Suqaylabiyah, north of Hama, highlights the precarious situation for Christians and other minority communities.
Turkey continues its attacks on Kurds and supports militia operations, further endangering displaced minorities sheltering in Kurdish-controlled areas.
In late December, a mission team leader from Free Burma Rangers (FBR), a faith-based aid organization, reported from near Kobani, where Turkish-supported militias had targeted a grain depot the previous day.
The attack destroyed essential food supplies critical to sustaining internally displaced people (IDPs) in the region. Highlighting the aftermath, the team leader described damaged grain piles and storage areas, emphasizing the devastating impact on already scarce resources in the area.
The conflict between Turkish-backed Islamist groups like the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Kurds has left deep scars, rooted in a long history of abuse and tension.
Human rights organizations, including Syrians for Truth and Justice, are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of detainees held by the SNA in Afrin, Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê, and Tell Abyad/Girê Spî.
Many of these detainees, predominantly Kurdish, have suffered arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture since the SNA seized control of these regions during Turkey’s “Olive Branch” and “Peace Spring” operations in 2018 and 2019.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have launched a counter-offensive to reclaim territory near Syria’s northern border from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). A key U.S. ally, the SDF, known for combating Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells, now faces mounting challenges from Turkish-backed forces.
SDF spokesperson Ruken Jamal reported their fighters are advancing toward Manbij, a former SDF stronghold and safe zone for minorities, recently captured by the SNA.
With forces just 7 miles from the city’s center, Jamal accused Turkey of exploiting the conflict to diminish Kurdish influence in Syria’s political future.
Despite Turkish airstrikes on towns like Kobani, the SDF has reclaimed several villages near the strategic Tishrin Dam, a vital hydroelectric resource.
Ankara views the SDF as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it designates a terrorist organization. Turkish forces and jets have targeted SDF positions across northern Syria for years, seeking to establish a buffer zone.
The SNA, which played a role in Assad’s overthrow alongside Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), continues its campaign against the SDF, complicating the region’s stability.
The conflict has left infrastructure in ruins, with water, electricity, and basic supplies scarce. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy casualties on both sides since the SNA’s offensive began.
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi expressed concerns about a potential resurgence of ISIS due to the ongoing fighting, which limits the SDF’s capacity to target extremist sleeper cells. Thousands of IS militants and their families remain detained in SDF-controlled areas, adding to regional instability.
Despite the removal of Assad, Turkey’s stance on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remains unchanged, and tensions continue to rise. The ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has opened dialogue with the SDF but under stringent terms.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that the SDF should be integrated into the newly formed national army, emphasizing, “Weapons should only be under the control of the state.
We are open to welcoming anyone armed and qualified into the defense ministry.” He further added that negotiations with the SDF would only proceed under these conditions, hinting at limited flexibility: “Under these terms and conditions, we will open a dialogue… to perhaps find an appropriate solution.”
The SDF is unlikely to agree to disarm or integrate into a federal army, particularly if it involves relinquishing its controlled territories. Meanwhile, the rise of groups like HTS and the Syrian National Army (SNA), coupled with Turkey’s continued interference, risks empowering extremist factions and destabilizing the region.
These developments pose significant threats to U.S. interests and the safety of minority communities in northeastern Syria. As the situation worsens, calls for U.S. intervention—ranging from military aid to sanctions against Turkey—are intensifying.
The post Europe Edges Toward Recognizing Syria’s Islamist Leadership: Peace Remains Elusive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.