Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new president, said in an interview with The Economist that his government had convinced Turkey to delay a full-scale military operation against Kurdish forces in the northeast of his country to allow for negotiations but expressed little optimism about reaching an agreement.
Al-Sharaa, the former leader of al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, assumed the presidency on January 29 after the collapse of the Assad regime and now faces the challenge of consolidating power in Syria’s fractured state.
Al-Sharaa claimed in the interview that all major militias except the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had agreed to join a new national army and ruled out a federal system for the Kurds, arguing that it lacks public support and could lead to separatism. He also said there was Arab majority opposition to SDF rule in the northeast.
Despite Kurdish forces signaling their willingness to integrate into the Syrian state, negotiations remain stalled.
“Not with that much optimism,” al-Sharaa said when asked about the likelihood of a deal. Turkey, which views the SDF as linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), had prepared for a large-scale military operation but agreed to hold off at Syria’s request according to Syrian president.
NEW: Syria’s Al Sharaa reveals that Damascus asked Turkey to stop a full fledged attack against SDF to give room to negotiations.
Though, Al-Sharaa adds that he isn’t very optimistic about a deal with SDF
— The Economist pic.twitter.com/umVCVcx0su
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) February 3, 2025
Al-Sharaa assured regional powers that Syria would not serve as a platform for hostile operations against its neighbors, particularly Turkey, and pledged to curb PKK influence. He is due on Tuesday to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara in his second international visit after making his first trip as president to Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Al-Sharaa’s rise to power has sparked international scrutiny, given his past as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While he has promised democratic reforms, a new constitution and eventual elections, many of these commitments have been pushed years into the future. His interim government is dominated by figures from his former stronghold in Idlib, and he has struggled to assert control over Syria’s vast and divided territory.
Al-Sharaa has sought international backing to rebuild Syria’s shattered economy, which faces a liquidity crisis and widespread infrastructure devastation. While he has reached out to Gulf states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia for investment, he remains critical of the US military presence in Syria, calling it “illegal,” and has taken a hard line against Israel, warning that its post-Assad territorial gains “will cause a lot of trouble in the future.”
Last week US President Donald Trump denied reports that he intends to withdraw American troops from Syria but said a decision on their future will be made. Israeli media reported that his administration linked a potential withdrawal to Turkey’s rapprochement with Israel, which deteriorated over Israel’s Gaza war.
Turkey opposes the US presence in Syria due to Washington’s support for the SDF. The US recently increased its troop presence in Syria to around 2,000, citing the need to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Kurdish forces warn that a US pullout would leave them vulnerable to Turkish attacks and threats from ISIL and pro-Turkish elements.
Despite presenting himself as a pragmatic leader willing to engage with the West, al-Sharaa’s government remains largely isolated, with many viewing his transition from jihadist commander to head of state with skepticism. While Syria is experiencing relative calm for the first time since the 2011 uprising, al-Sharaa’s ability to govern, implement reforms and prevent further conflict remains uncertain.