The Turkish Ministry of Defense has confirmed that its operations in northeastern Syria against “Kurdish militants” are still ongoing.
Reuters reported today, Wednesday, March 12, that an official from the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that the military operations being conducted by the Turkish armed forces against Kurdish militants in northern Syria are ongoing, including on Tuesday.
This comes after an agreement between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the new Syrian administration.
The Turkish military official did not provide details about the locations of the operations that took place, but Hawar News Agency, which is close to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), reported heavy shelling by Turkey targeting a livestock facility and neighborhoods in the city of Tal Tamr, as well as the vicinity of the Tishrin dam.
The United States expressed its welcome for the agreement made between the interim Damascus government and the SDF.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the interim Syrian authorities and the SDF to integrate northeastern Syria into a united Syria.
He added that his country supports a political transition in Syria that demonstrates a reliable and non-sectarian governance structure as the best way to avoid further conflict.
On Monday evening, the transitional Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with the commander of the SDF, during which both parties reached an agreement that stipulates the integration of the SDF into state institutions in Syria.
During the meeting, they agreed to ensure the rights of all Syrians in representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions based on competence, regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds.
According to the terms of the agreement, the Kurdish community is considered an indigenous community in the Syrian state, and the state guarantees its citizenship and constitutional rights.
They agreed to a ceasefire across all Syrian territory, and the integration of civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria under the management of the Syrian state, including border crossings and oil and gas fields.
The Syrian president agreed with Mazloum Abdi to ensure the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages and to guarantee their protection from the Syrian state, in addition to supporting the Syrian state in combating the remnants of the Assad regime and all threats to its security and unity.
They also agreed to reject calls for division, hate speech, and attempts to sow discord among all components of Syrian society.
The executive committees are working and coordinating to implement the agreement by the end of this year.