Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
Fighting has displaced more than 11,000 civilians from towns east of Aleppo in recent days, residents said, as Syrian troops moved into areas vacated by Kurdish-led forces under a withdrawal agreement.
In an address on Friday, Ahmed al-Sharaa said the decree would ensure Kurdish rights were "safeguarded by the text of the law" and urged displaced Kurdish Syrians to return to their towns and villages, provided they laid down their weapons.
The decree recognises Kurdish as a national language in Syria, declares Nowruz a national holiday and orders the restoration of Syrian citizenship to Kurds stripped of it under a controversial 1962 census.
It also instructs state institutions to promote inclusive discourse and equal rights.
On the ground, Syrian army tanks and armoured vehicles entered the town of Deir Hafer on Saturday after fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew to avoid further clashes, according to the Associated Press.
The military said it had taken control of Deir Hafer and the nearby Jarrah air base and was clearing mines and explosives as it advanced eastwards.
State media later reported clashes near Maskana, where two soldiers were killed and others wounded.
Syrian state media also said government forces had taken control of the strategic town of Tabqa (formerly al-Thawrah) and nearby dams along the Euphrates River, as well as oilfields west of Raqqa.
Kurdish authorities did not confirm the loss of those positions, and Reuters said it was unclear whether fighting was still ongoing.
The SDF accused Damascus of violating the withdrawal agreement by pushing into areas not covered by the deal, calling the situation "highly dangerous".
The original agreement covered Deir Hafer and surrounding Arab-majority villages, where residents were seen welcoming the arrival of government troops.
The U.S. military said it had met Kurdish partners in the Deir Hafer area as part of efforts to support stability. A spokesperson for United States Central Command said "a Syria at peace with itself is critical to preserving peace and stability across the region".
Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement posted on X that Syrian troops should "cease any offensive actions" between Aleppo and Tabqa.
Meanwhile, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi said his forces would withdraw from areas east of Aleppo and redeploy east of the Euphrates, citing calls from friendly countries and mediators.
Reuters reported that the United States had urged Syrian forces to halt further advances into Kurdish-held territory. There was no immediate public comment from the White House.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying American forces could strike Iranian power plants ...
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing internati...
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime ...
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported...
Cuba’s national power grid went down on Saturday, cutting electricity for millions, officials said. The outage marks the second nationwide...
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying American forces could strike Iranian power plants if the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Israel has also signalled it will step up military action in the region, raising fears of a wider escalation.
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing international criticism.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, the martial artist, actor and cultural icon best known for his roles in action films and the long-running CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86.
The trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially become the most-watched trailer of all time, racking up 718.6 million views in its first 24 hours and surpassing the previous record set by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024.
Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Italy is voting on 22 and 23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing international criticism.
Iran has launched long-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles towards the joint U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, in what Israeli officials said was a major escalation in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying American forces could strike Iranian power plants if the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Israel has also signalled it will step up military action in the region, raising fears of a wider escalation.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
The U.S. President’s Board of Peace has presented Hamas with a written proposal on disarmament, two sources said, a step the group has so far refused as Washington presses ahead with its plan for Gaza’s future.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment