U.S. shifts Syria policy: Ends support for Kurds, backs new Damascus government
By bellecarter // 2026-01-21
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  • The Trump administration shifts policy, withdrawing military aid from Syria's Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in favor of the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack justifies the move, citing al-Sharaa's cooperation with Western counterterrorism efforts and reforms, like recognizing Kurdish language rights.
  • Kurdish leaders accuse the U.S. of betrayal after years of fighting ISIS together. Damascus issues a 4-day ultimatum for Kurdish forces to surrender autonomy, raising fears of military escalation.
  • Critics compare the policy shift to Trump's 2019 pullback, which allowed Turkey to attack Kurdish-held areas. Kurdish officials warn that vague promises of equality under al-Sharaa's government mask exclusion from power.
  • Despite U.S. praise, al-Sharaa's militant past (including al-Qaeda ties) fuels doubts about his government's legitimacy. Sen. Lindsey Graham warns of potential U.S. sanctions if Kurdish rights are violated.
  • The U.S. frames the shift as a step toward stability, but Kurdish autonomy hangs in the balance. Escalating clashes and diplomatic tensions leave Syria's future and U.S. reliability as an ally in question.
In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has signaled an end to U.S. military support for Syria's Kurdish-led forces, instead endorsing the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The move, announced by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, comes amid escalating clashes between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), raising concerns over Kurdish autonomy and regional stability. The decision reflects Washington's reassessment of Syria's political landscape following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of al-Sharaa's government, which the U.S. now sees as a viable partner in counterterrorism efforts. For years, the U.S. backed the SDF as its primary ally in the fight against ISIS, providing military aid and maintaining a troop presence in northeastern Syria, BrightU.AI's Enoch points out. However, Barrack argued that the original justification for this partnership, the absence of a functional central Syrian government, no longer applies. "At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with – the Assad regime was weakened, contested and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia," Barrack said in a statement. He emphasized that al-Sharaa's government has since demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with Western counterterrorism efforts, including joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The U.S. envoy praised Damascus for recent reforms, including recognizing Kurdish as a national language and declaring Nowruz a national holiday. Barrack urged Kurdish leaders to seize what he called "a unique window" for political integration, stating that the opportunities offered by the new Syrian government were "far beyond the semi-autonomy the SDF held amid civil war chaos."

Kurdish disillusionment and regional tensions

The abrupt policy shift has drawn sharp criticism from Kurdish officials, who accuse Washington of abandoning them at a critical moment. The SDF, which played a pivotal role in defeating ISIS, now faces military pressure from Damascus, with al-Sharaa issuing a four-day ultimatum for Kurdish forces to surrender their autonomy. Syrian Kurdish leaders argue that promises of equal rights under the new government remain vague, particularly after al-Sharaa excluded them from his cabinet and postponed elections in Kurdish-majority regions. "We fought ISIS alongside the U.S., only to be told now that our struggle no longer matters," said a senior SDF commander, speaking on condition of anonymity. The U.S. withdrawal of support echoes a controversial 2019 decision under President Donald Trump, when American forces pulled back ahead of a Turkish offensive against Kurdish-held territories. At the time, Trump infamously justified the move by claiming the Kurds "didn't help us in World War II." While no such reasoning has been invoked this time, the latest shift has reignited debate over Washington's reliability as an ally.

A new chapter for U.S.-Syria relations?

The Trump administration framed its policy change as part of a broader effort to stabilize Syria and reduce long-term U.S. military involvement. Barrack stressed that Washington's priorities are now limited to securing ISIS detention facilities and mediating talks between the SDF and Damascus. Yet skepticism remains over whether al-Sharaa's government can deliver on its promises of inclusivity. Critics point to his militant past, including ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq, and question whether his administration represents genuine reform or merely a rebranding of authoritarian rule. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has warned that continued attacks on Kurdish-held areas could trigger U.S. sanctions, signaling potential resistance within Congress. But for now, the White House appears firmly behind al-Sharaa, with Trump previously praising him as a "young, attractive, tough guy." The U.S. decision to withdraw support from Syria's Kurds marks a pivotal moment in the decade-long conflict, underscoring Washington's pivot toward a centralized Syrian state under al-Sharaa. While the administration touts the move as a step toward stability, Kurdish leaders fear it will embolden Damascus to dismantle their hard-won autonomy. As clashes intensify and diplomatic tensions rise, the long-term consequences of this strategic shift for Syria's Kurds and the broader region remain uncertain. Watch the video below that talks about the U.S.'s forever war in Syria. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.AntiWar.com English.AlArabiya.net BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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