国际英语资讯:Yearender: Syria aspires for political solution to civil war after IS collapse_时事

国际英语资讯:Yearender: Syria aspires for political solution to civil war after IS collapse

TENSION BETWEEN GOV'T AND KURDS

In the meantime, the Kurdish-led SDF was also attacking the IS in the northern countryside of Deir al-Zour, yet with different aims.

The Syrian army's aim was to get all the areas captured by the IS back to the government control, while the U.S.-backed SDF was to consolidate its presence to realize its old dream of establishing an autonomy in Syria.

There was no military or political confrontation between them at first.

The Kurdish-led groups, however, repeatedly accused the government forces of targeting their areas, while the Syrian government refused to acknowledge the liberation of Raqqa, saying the city was occupied by the U.S. and Kurdish forces.

Syrian officials repeatedly said the government will regain all lost areas, including those under the Kurdish control, while Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Kurdish autonomy was not non-negotiable.

On Dec. 20, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad described the SDF as "new Daesh (IS)," saying the SDF should be a part of Syria.

The sharp comments came as the government perceives the Kurdish activities as separatist, despite the repeated remarks from the Kurds that they were not seeking independence.

PROSPECT OF POLITICAL SETTLEMENT

While the war on terror was successful in 2017, the wheels of political solution were moving slowly, as no concrete ground has been agreed on despite rounds of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.