In stark defiance of regional circumstances and the absence of any declared international support, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue to conduct large-scale military exercises using heavy and medium weapons in the Raqqa countryside.
According to the Kurdish militia, these intensive training exercises aim to raise combat readiness and develop the efficiency of its personnel, amid a noticeable intensification of tunnel-digging operations and the strengthening of defensive fortifications.
These movements indicate the SDF's insistence on strengthening its military capabilities independently, a move that could carry worrying implications for the future of the region.
While some circles are talking about the imminent outbreak of war, the SDF appears determined to take matters into its own hands, far from any potential agreements with the Syrian government regarding integration or the handover of territories.
This development raises serious questions about the SDF's true intentions and future strategy, especially in light of the lack of any indication of external support for these military activities.
Swathes of north and northeast Syria are controlled by a Kurdish-led administration whose de facto army, the SDF, spearheaded the fight that helped defeat ISIS in Syria in 2019.
Despite last March's agreement between the SDF and the Damascus government, Kurdish forces remain evasive, attempting to circumvent integration into the new Syrian army. Kurdish fears are growing with the growing rapprochement between Washington and Damascus, and President Ahmed al-Sharaa's full support for extending state sovereignty across all Syrian territory.
Zaman al-Wasl
Zaman Al Wasl
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