SDF leader Mazloum Abdi said he was prepared to address Turkish “security concerns” [Getty]
The leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has proposed the formation of a demilitarised zone around Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arab, in northern Syria, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the recently occupied Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Israel has launched at least 800 strikes on Syria in the space of a week.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi made the proposal in a post on X on Tuesday evening, where he reiterated his group’s commitment to a ceasefire and said they were ready to have the “redeployment of security forces under US supervision and presence”.
He added that the move was an effort to “address Turkish security concerns and ensure permanent stability in the region”.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor confirmed on Wednesday that the SDF and Turkish-backed factions have “committed to the US-brokered ceasefire agreement”, which it said went into effect last night.
Netanyahu visits recently-occupied Mount Hermon
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, which Israeli forces recently occupied. He said Israeli forces will remain there until another arrangement is found, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Israeli forces have been present in the area since they moved into the demilitarised zone between the Golan Heights – Syrian territory Israel occupied in 1967 – and the rest of Syria earlier this month, following the toppling of the Assad regime.
There has been no indication of when the troops may withdraw, despite Israeli officials stating the move was a temporary measure to “secure Israel’s borders”.
Netanyahu went to the site for an operational briefing with military commanders and officials on Tuesday.
Previously, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz told troops to remain on Mount Hermon over the winter period.
The UN labelled the occupation of the area a breach of a longstanding ceasefire agreement with Syria, accusing Israel of violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
“The agreement must be upheld; occupation remains occupation, regardless of its duration,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel has launched around 800 strikes on Syria in one week, while the UN warned that the war in Syria “has not ended”.
“There have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, before a ceasefire was brokered,” Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria said on Tuesday.
This came after clashes between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the SDF in northern Syria, which took place during and after Assad’s ouster.
Calls for an ‘inclusive Syria’
Members of the UN Security Council have also been calling for an “inclusive” political process in Syria which will enable citizens “to a peacefully, independently and democratically determine their own futures”.
The members emphasised Syria must abide by council resolutions and discussed confronting “terrorism”.
Pederson pushed for more support to end sanctions on Syria to allow for reconstruction in the country.
“The needs are immense and could only be addressed with broad support, including a smooth end to sanctions, appropriate action on designations, too, and full reconstruction,” he said.
The EU has already signalled it will be establishing contact with Syria’s new leadership and reopen its delegation in the country.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week that the EU would also be ramping up vital humanitarian aid to the country.
