SDF fighters prepare to attend a military parade before the funeral of senior Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Nuredin Sofi, in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria. AP
SDF fighters prepare to attend a military parade before the funeral of senior Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Nuredin Sofi, in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria. AP
SDF fighters prepare to attend a military parade before the funeral of senior Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Nuredin Sofi, in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria. AP
SDF fighters prepare to attend a military parade before the funeral of senior Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Nuredin Sofi, in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria. AP

US renews push to avert all-out conflict between Syria's Kurds and Damascus


Khaled Yacoub Oweis
  • English
  • Arabic

The US has renewed a diplomatic push to resolve critical differences between Syria's new central authorities and the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces that threaten to spark an all-out conflict, sources said, as violence between the two sides escalates.

In the past 72 hours, Syrian authorities said security forces seized rocket launchers and other weapons allegedly being smuggled to SDF-held areas in the east. Damascus also said its forces foiled an SDF attempt to infiltrate one of the front lines between the two sides in Deir Ezzor governorate, a claim the SDF has denied. On Monday, Turkish jets bombed SDF positions on another front line along the Euphrates. Turkey is the main backer of the current government in Damascus.

The new US approach consists of less pressure on the Kurds, especially after the American officials opposed Kurdish demands for a decentralised system of government in Syria. Washington has also put forth proposals to bridge the gap over the government's insistence that the SDF disbands – the main sticking point between the two sides, the sources said.

"The State Department had basically shuttered its doors to the Kurds. Now they are open again," one of the sources in Washington said. The government's attempt to take control of the mostly Druze province of Sweida was said to have contributed to the US change in stance towards the Kurds and other minorities. Hundreds of civilians, mainly Druze, were killed in the Sweida campaign, which was largely suspended after Israel intervened militarily to defend the Druze. "They are listening to them more than before," the source said.

US firm on SDF concessions

However, US officials have been warning the Kurds not to expect the same kind of protection that Israel has extended to the Druze, although there has been more contact lately between the SDF and Israel, the source said.

"Washington is still adamant that the Kurds make substantive concessions," the source said. "Israel cannot defend two minorities at the same time and will always choose the Druze first." The source said the US expects the SDF ultimately to relinquish Arab areas under its control in the east and give up its monopoly on oil production in the area.

On Sunday, senior Kurdish politician Ilham Ahmad, a key negotiator on behalf of the SDF, met two members of the foreign relations committees in the US Senate and House, in Amman, a diplomat in the Jordanian capital told The National.

“The State Department was not far away from the discussions," said the diplomat, who was briefed on the meeting.

Scott Bolz, a senior American diplomat handling the Kurdish file, also met Ms Ahmad in Jordan, he said. There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in the kingdom.

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara meets US Representative Joe Wilson, left, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, second left, and US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, right, in Damascus on August 25, 2025. SANA via AP
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara meets US Representative Joe Wilson, left, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, second left, and US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, right, in Damascus on August 25, 2025. SANA via AP

Last week, the two US legislators, Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Joe Wilson, met President Ahmad Al Shara to discuss the fate of the numerous minority communities in Syria under Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda that led the rebel overthrow of the Assad regime in December.

The SDF controls large parts of eastern Syria that produce most of Syria's power output, oil and gas, as well as wheat and other commodities. Regaining these regions is key for Mr Al Shara to bolster his position, especially among his core Sunni constituency. A deal in March to integrate the SDF into the post-Assad state has stalled, mainly over Damascus's demand that the SDF disband.

However, the US has proposed that the SDF partially join the new Syrian army, which means that Mr Al Shara would advance his goal while SDF leader "Mazloum Abdi keeps a good chunk of the SDF and an open channel to Al Shara”, the diplomat said. The Kurds represented around 10 per cent of Syria's 22 million population before the civil war began in 2011.

Mistrust, however, remains at an all-time high, the sources said, with the SDF more insistent, after the Sweida bloodshed, that it will not dissolve.

"They cannot trust that government forces would not go to the east and repeat a Sweida scenario," said another diplomat. Ms Ahmad is considered to be among Kurdish hardliners who see their position as having been bolstered by the events in Sweida, they added.

Hardline position

The Kurdish issue has emerged as the thorniest in US-backed efforts to stabilise Syria after the civil war. Washington created the SDF in 2014 as its infantry ally in the war against ISIS in Syria. But Turkey is seen as having enormous sway on how the Syrian government is dealing with the issue. Turkey regards the SDF as a major security threat and opposes any devolution of central powers that could give Kurds and other minorities substantive powers in the post-Assad order.

"Even when Al Shara shows flexibility, he cannot act on the Syrian file without reverting to Turkey," said a western diplomat who had met Mr Al Shara.

The sources said that Ms Ahmad will travel to Damascus in the coming days for a new round of talks on the fate of the SDF. She answers directly to Mr Abdi.

Mr Al Shara’s forces have upped their military preparations against the SDF. In a meeting with Arab journalists last month, Mr Al Shara maintained a hardline position that there could be no alternative to a unitary state and brushed off the possibility of a decentralised system.

"Unless the government accepts decentralisation, the Kurds will be going through the motions of talks to please the Americans, but they will not cede any real control," the western diplomat said.

"The problem is that even if Al Shara accepts devolution, Turkey will not, and he cannot go against Ankara."

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: N2 Technology

Founded: 2018

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Startups

Size: 14

Funding: $1.7m from HNIs

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

Second ODI

England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)

England win by 86 runs

Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley 

Predictions

Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:

  • Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
  • Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
  • Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
  • Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
  • Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai

Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore

What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

The biog

Age: 35

Inspiration: Wife and kids 

Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow  by Daniel Kahneman

Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia 

Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

Match info

Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

How to get exposure to gold

Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.

A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.

Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.

Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.

London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long

However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

The past winners

2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)

2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

FA CUP FINAL

Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)

Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bharatanatyam

A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.

Updated: September 03, 2025, 2:09 PM