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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the...
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dolla...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 21 July covered the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, rising trade tensions between the United States and Canada, and key regional and international developments.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first major step in a U.S.-brokered plan to reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first major step in a U.S.-brokered plan to reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Georgian officials have returned from Rotterdam with new ideas for multimodal logistics, but after years of delays, the Anaklia Deepwater Port still faces significant challenges before it becomes a reality.
A family of six, including four children, has been killed after an Israeli airstrike hit their home in Gaza City, underscoring the continuing violence despite a ceasefire that has formally remained in place for more than nine months.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment