Syria rejects reports of new SDF deal as talks remain frozen

Syria on Thursday denied reports suggesting a new understanding had been reached with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), insisting that negotiations have not resumed. Deputy Minister of Information Obada Koujan said claims circulating in some media outlets do not reflect reality, emphasizing that communication channels with the SDF are currently suspended as Damascus focuses on stabilizing the country after months of political transition.

Officials warn against misleading claims

Koujan said the figures and scenarios being shared online are “closer to wishes than facts,” calling on media organizations to avoid publishing what he described as false or misleading information. His remarks came amid renewed speculation over talks between the Syrian government and the SDF, which controls parts of northern and eastern Syria.

SDF under pressure over unmet commitments

Presidential media adviser Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan said the SDF’s room for maneuver has narrowed, arguing that the group failed to honor obligations outlined in a March 10 agreement. “The SDF must take responsibility for not fulfilling what it signed in the presence of major powers such as Türkiye and the US,” he said, referring to a deal aimed at integrating the group into state institutions while preserving Syria’s territorial unity.

Post-Assad transition and security focus

Zaidan also pointed to public events marking the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s fall as evidence of domestic cohesion and international backing for what officials call the “new Syria.” The government has stepped up security measures since the end of the Assad era last December, while reiterating that the SDF, dominated by the YPG—the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist organization—has shown little progress toward implementing agreed terms.