Syria will not participate in planned meetings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, state television reported on Saturday, casting uncertainty over an integration agreement signed between the two sides in March.
A government source, quoted by the state news agency, confirmed Damascus’ withdrawal from the talks but did not elaborate on the reasons. The development raises questions about the future of the deal, which aimed to formalise cooperation between the Syrian government and the SDF in governance and security arrangements.
The SDF, backed by the United States, served as the main fighting force against the Islamic State group in Syria, playing a pivotal role in the 2019 campaign that dismantled the militants’ self-proclaimed caliphate across Syria and Iraq.
The decision to skip the Paris meetings underscores the ongoing political rift between Damascus and the SDF, particularly over issues of autonomy and foreign alliances, and comes amid renewed regional tensions in northern Syria.
