In Damascus, Syria, the nation’s new leader is hosting a national unity conference and welcoming international leaders while citizens are enjoying newfound freedom to express themselves. However, 400 miles northeast in a region outside Damascus’s control, intense battles continue with drones and airstrikes causing many to flee. The conflict pits Kurdish-led forces supported by the US against a Turkish-backed militia, intensifying after rebels ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad. The interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, faces challenges unifying the country and controlling various armed groups, including a resurgent Islamic State. Syria’s Kurds, an ethnic minority, fear losing autonomy as the Turkish government views them as a threat. Turkey’s influence in Syria has increased due to its support of the rebel group that overthrew al-Assad. The P.K.K. has declared a cease-fire in Turkey after its leader called for disbandment. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), fighting the Islamic State for years with US support, now face pressure to disarm and merge with the national army. They also guard prisons holding Islamic State fighters. While Kurds hope for security under the new government, they resist losing their autonomous region and military capabilities. The stability of Syria and its neighbors is at stake as various factions’ actions could lead to further conflict and migration.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/world/middleeast/syria-militias-fighting.html