French President Emmanuel Macron and Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, have strongly condemned the renewed fighting in northern Syria and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Their appeal follows accusations by Kurdish-led forces that the new authorities in Damascus violated agreements governing the withdrawal of troops from areas east of Aleppo.
According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, both leaders urged all parties to de-escalate without delay and return to political dialogue. The phone call came amid reports of heavy clashes between Kurdish units and Syrian government forces, highlighting the fragility of security arrangements in a region that has long been a focal point of the Syrian conflict.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that government-affiliated factions breached the terms of a deal that was meant to ensure an orderly withdrawal of their fighters from territory east of Aleppo. According to the SDF, Syrian forces advanced before the withdrawal process had been completed, triggering renewed hostilities. The group warned that the situation had become “extremely dangerous,” reporting artillery shelling and rocket fire in parts of Raqqa province.
The SDF control large swaths of northern and northeastern Syria, including areas rich in oil and gas resources. These territories were captured during the civil war and in the fight against the extremist group Islamic State, making the SDF a central military and economic actor outside the direct authority of Damascus. Control over these resources has become a key point of contention in efforts to reunify the country under a single political framework.
The renewed clashes come as Syria’s Islamist-led authorities seek to consolidate control over the entire country following the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad more than a year ago. In March last year, Damascus and the Kurdish administration signed an agreement aimed at integrating the semi-autonomous Kurdish structures and their armed forces into the Syrian state. However, implementation of the deal has largely stalled, fueling mutual distrust.
During their call, Macron and Barzani voiced support for the immediate resumption of talks on integrating the SDF into state institutions. France has consistently argued that a political solution inclusive of Syria’s ethnic and regional diversity is essential to long-term stability. Leaders in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region share concerns that renewed conflict could further destabilize the region.
The fighting in northern Syria underscores the precarious nature of postwar arrangements and the risks posed by unresolved political, territorial, and economic disputes. Without a credible and inclusive settlement, analysts warn, Syria could slide back into broader conflict. The joint intervention by Macron and Barzani reflects growing international concern that the window for a sustainable peace may be narrowing.