Damascus, Syria – Ilham Ahmed, the head of foreign relations for the Autonomous Administration, issued a stark warning on Thursday about a dangerous deterioration in the Syrian situation. She also asserted that leaked statements by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa amounted to a declaration of war against the Kurds. Simultaneously, she revealed the commencement of military movements and reinforcements by the interim government forces in the eastern Aleppo countryside. During a press conference held via Zoom, Ahmed denied the Damascus government’s accusations that the Autonomous Administration had failed to adhere to the March 10th agreement. She further emphasized that these claims were unfounded and that international parties were well aware of this.
She clarified that the meetings held with Damascus officials were not at the government’s request, but rather took place under direct American and French pressure aimed at keeping channels of dialogue open.
She added that Damascus displayed clear intransigence throughout the negotiation process, refusing to form an independent negotiating body. It also repeatedly severed communications before they were later resumed following direct intervention from the American side. This reflects the lack of genuine political will on the part of the transitional government to reach a comprehensive solution. On the ground, Ilham Ahmed confirmed that President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s statements were no longer mere political rhetoric. They were translated into action through the deployment of significant military reinforcements to the Deir Hafer and Maskana areas in the eastern Aleppo countryside. She warned that this escalation constitutes a clear declaration of war and could lead the country into a new civil war, cautioning against dangerous attempts to incite animosity between Kurds and Arabs and plunge Syrian society into a devastating internal conflict.
Regarding the international role, Ahmed called on the US Congress to tighten oversight of the conditions for lifting sanctions. She also asserted that the interim government had imposed itself politically and unilaterally formed the government, drafted the constitution, and established the People’s Assembly without genuine national consensus.
She further confirmed ongoing communication with the United States and Turkey to present de-escalation initiatives, awaiting official responses. She indicated that the events in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods were the result of international understandings, not unilateral actions. The head of foreign relations for the Autonomous Administration issued a direct appeal to Arab states to intervene immediately and contribute to helping Syria avert an imminent internal explosion. She also affirmed that the Autonomous Administration had done everything necessary to de-escalate the situation. She explained that the continued military buildup and hostile rhetoric from Damascus pose grave risks to the stability of northern Syria and the entire country.
