The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced on Thursday that it is ready to unify with the new government in Damascus following the recent overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement released on December 12, AANES declared its support for the revolutionary Syrian opposition, describing the ousting of the Assad regime as the “end of the era of oppression and tyranny.”
The statement comes amid a period of intensified conflict in northeastern Syria, where Turkish-backed forces have launched major offensives against territories controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
As a symbolic gesture, AANES confirmed it would raise the three-starred Syrian revolution flag—green, white, and black with red stars—in areas under its administration. The flag, historically associated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and broader opposition forces, was described as a “symbol of a new phase” representing freedom, dignity, and national unity.
The situation in northeastern Syria remains volatile, with Turkish-backed forces advancing into Manbij, a strategically critical city, and clashing with the SDF. The SDF’s local military council in Manbij has been forced to retreat under heavy bombardment from Turkish warplanes.
Fighting has also escalated near the Tishreen Dam on the Euphrates River, a vital piece of infrastructure providing electricity and water to large sections of northern Syria. Aid groups, including the Northeast Syria NGO Forum, have warned of catastrophic consequences if the dam is damaged, potentially impacting up to one million people.
Siyamend Ali, head of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) press office, confirmed ongoing battles near the dam, stating: “The Manbij military council is trying to defend itself, but Turkish warplanes are bombing the bridge and the dam with tens of bombs, and are targeting the SDF.”
Turkey views the YPG, which forms the backbone of the SDF, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group Ankara designates as a terrorist organization. Despite the U.S. also designating the PKK as a terrorist group, Washington has maintained support for the SDF in its fight against ISIS.
The SDF, under the leadership of commander Mazloum Abdi, has expressed readiness to engage with the new authorities in Damascus. In an interview with Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath, Abdi emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating: “Our relationship will be with the central government in Damascus.”
He further noted ongoing communication through American intermediaries with both Turkey and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant opposition group that played a leading role in Assad’s overthrow.
