Syria Regains Kurdish-Held Areas Through Quiet Diplomacy as US Shifts Position

Damascus — Syria has regained control of several areas previously held by Kurdish-led YPG/SDF forces following a series of behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts, marking a major shift in the country’s internal conflict and regional alignments.

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‎According to recent reports, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa secured the territories through a combination of political negotiations and strategic coordination, rather than large-scale military confrontation. Talks held in **Damascus, Paris, and Iraq** played a key role in laying the groundwork for the breakthrough.
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‎A central development in the process was a noticeable change in the stance of the United States. Washington, which has long supported the YPG/SDF as a partner in the fight against ISIS, reportedly chose not to block the Syrian government’s advance and signaled a preference for working more closely with Damascus.
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‎Sources familiar with the discussions said U.S. envoy Tom Barrack delivered a clear message to YPG/SDF leaders, indicating that American priorities were now more closely aligned with President Sharaa’s government than with the Kurdish-led forces.
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‎The shift has enabled Damascus to reassert control over strategically important territories, strengthening the central government’s position and reducing the autonomous space previously held by Kurdish authorities in northern and eastern Syria.
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‎Analysts say the development reflects changing regional calculations, with the United States reassessing its partnerships and Syria leveraging diplomacy to reclaim ground that had been outside government control for years.
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‎The move is widely seen as a pivotal moment in the Syrian conflict, underscoring how quiet diplomacy and shifting alliances are reshaping the balance of power in the Middle East.