Recent statements by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, dated August 16, 2025, in which he expressed his hope to avoid any military clash with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while stressing the need to implement the March 10, 2025, agreement aimed at integrating civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria within the framework of the state.
President al-Sharaa also pointed to external attempts, led by Israel, to incite strife in the southern regions.
These statements come at a sensitive time, as security reports issued on August 16, 2025, indicated large-scale military preparations by the Syrian army, including the mobilization of approximately 50,000 troops in the areas of Palmyra, al-Sukhnah, and al-Rusafa, with the aim of regaining control of the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor by October 2025, should peace negotiations fail.
Information indicates the possible participation of factions from the former Turkish-backed National Army on the Tishrin Dam front, raising the possibility of military escalation.
In the same context, previous US statements affirmed continued conditional support for the SDF, with a call for concessions in the ongoing negotiations with the Syrian government.
It appears that the US position is gradually moving closer to the Turkish vision, while the SDF denied any direct pressure, preferring to focus on new joint missions with the International Coalition, which continued to send military reinforcements to its bases in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah, including armored vehicles and logistical equipment.
Recent days have also witnessed sporadic clashes along the Euphrates River, particularly around the Tishrin Dam, between SDF forces and Turkish-backed factions, amid mutual artillery shelling in villages such as Qazali and Tal al-Tawil. In Raqqa, emergency meetings were held, mediated by the International Coalition, in an attempt to contain the escalation and activate channels of dialogue.
The Syrian Future Movement views these developments as a crucial opportunity to strengthen national unity and avoid a slide into confrontation. The movement affirms its full support for a political solution between the government and the SDF as an alternative to any military option that could lead to additional bloodshed and deepening security tensions, especially in the eastern regions, which already suffer from fragile infrastructure and worsening humanitarian challenges.
We, in the Syrian Future Movement, emphasize the need to prioritize reason and the national interest over any narrow factional interests or foreign interventions, whether American, Turkish, or Israeli, which could hinder the process of building a unified and strong Syrian state.
We call on all parties to resume immediate dialogue under a comprehensive national umbrella, with a focus on integrating the SDF into the state structure and guaranteeing the rights of minorities and local communities in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, thus enhancing stability and paving the way for the reconstruction process.
The concept of a comprehensive Syrian state transcends any partial calculations. Syria is a shared homeland for all its people. We will continue to support every positive initiative toward peace and criticize any approach that threatens unity, emphasizing that Syria’s future is built through wisdom and cooperation, not confrontation and weapons.
