Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have effectively surrendered to the Syrian government after suffering catastrophic losses in a crushing military offensive that decimated their separatist ambitions and brought Damascus closer to full territorial control.
The capitulation comes after weeks of brutal fighting that saw government forces, joined by fed-up Arab tribesmen, systematically dismantle Kurdish-held territories that had operated as quasi-independent fiefdoms for years. What started as skirmishes escalated into a full-scale government offensive that left SDF forces facing complete annihilation.
This development represents a massive shift in Syria's power dynamics – one that could finally stabilize a region that's been plagued by endless conflict and foreign interference. While the Biden regime spent years propping up Kurdish separatists as part of their disastrous Middle East policy, the reality on the ground tells a different story about who actually controls Syria.
Arab Tribes Turn Against Kurdish Occupation
The most telling aspect of this defeat? Local Arab tribesmen actively joined government forces against their Kurdish occupiers. This isn't some manufactured conflict – it's indigenous populations rejecting separatist control and choosing legitimate government authority over militant rule.
For too long, American foreign policy treated these Kurdish groups as democratic freedom fighters while ignoring the complex tribal and ethnic realities on the ground. The Trump administration's more realistic approach to Syria – focusing on defeating ISIS rather than endless nation-building – looks increasingly prescient.
"Kurdish leaders agreed to a ceasefire only after facing the complete collapse of their forces," according to reports from the region.
This isn't just a military victory for Damascus – it's a rejection of the failed interventionist policies that kept Syria fractured and bleeding for over a decade. With Kurdish separatists neutralized and ISIS long defeated, Syria finally has a chance at the stability its people desperately need.
The question now is whether the Trump administration will recognize this new reality and work with whatever government actually controls Syrian territory, rather than chasing the ghost of regime change that haunted previous administrations. Sometimes peace requires accepting outcomes that Washington didn't orchestrate.