The jihadist rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad are aiming to establish a unified and inclusive country, but achieving this goal after 14 years of civil war poses significant challenges. For Syria's Kurdish minority, who have been America's closest ally in the country, the quest for a new order is entering a potentially more difficult phase.
Throughout the civil war, Kurdish fighters have defended against various armed factions, collaborated with the U.S. to defeat the Islamic State group, and created a largely autonomous region in Syria's oil-rich east. However, the recent rise of Sunni Arab rebels, supported by Turkey, threatens the gains made by the Kurdish population. This situation could make it challenging for the Kurds to secure a place in the new Syria and may prolong the conflict.
Despite the jihadist rebels extending peaceful gestures towards the Kurds, recent events have shown a different reality. Kurdish fighters were violently expelled from the city of Deir al-Zour by the rebels shortly after government forces withdrew. Additionally, an opposition faction backed by Turkey, engaged in a long-standing conflict with the Kurds, seized the town of Manbij. Turkey also conducted airstrikes on a Kurdish convoy suspected of carrying weapons looted from government arsenals.
The Kurds have traditionally relied on U.S. support to navigate such adversities. Approximately 900 American troops are stationed in eastern Syria, collaborating with Kurdish forces to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State. However, the future of this mission is uncertain under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed skepticism about continued U.S. involvement in Syria.
The Kurdish fighters in Syria, who are allied with the U.S., belong to one of the largest stateless ethnic groups globally, with around 30 million Kurds spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. In Syria, they established an autonomous region early in the civil war, maintaining a neutral stance between the Assad government and the rebel forces.
When the Islamic State captured a significant portion of Syria in 2014, Kurdish fighters, known for their secular ideology and inclusion of women in their ranks, played a crucial role in combating the extremists. This led to the formation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), comprising both Kurdish and Arab fighters, who, with the support of U.S.-led airstrikes and American special forces, successfully liberated large areas from the Islamic State, including the city of Raqqa.
Turkey's conflict with the Kurds stems from its perception of the SDF as an extension of the Kurdish insurgency within its borders. Turkey considers the primary Kurdish faction a terrorist organization comparable to the Islamic State and opposes their presence in a future Syria. In recent years, Turkey has backed the Syrian National Army, aiding them in seizing territory from the Kurds along the northern Syrian border.
The main rebel faction in Syria, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has expressed intentions to establish a new Syria free from dictatorship, accommodating all religious and ethnic groups. While initial interactions with the Kurdish forces have been positive, the rebels' recent advances raise concerns about potential clashes with the Kurds in eastern Syria.
As the situation in Syria evolves, the future of the Kurdish population remains uncertain. The support from the U.S. and the stance of the incoming Trump administration will significantly impact the Kurds' position in the post-Assad era and their ability to secure autonomy in the region.
