WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump is committed to supporting a Syria that is “stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors,” a White House official told Anadolu on Thursday.

“This is a key element of the President’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonimity, said.

The remarks came in the wake of attacks in northern Syria by the PKK/YPG terrorist group, which operates under the name of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

“A stable and sovereign Syria is critical for the region’s stability. Syria must not become a base for terrorism or pose a threat to its neighbors and the wider world,” the official added.

The comments came as members of the SDF shelled residential neighborhoods in Aleppo for a third consecutive day, prompting the Syrian army to respond to the sources of fire, according to Syrian media outlets.

Washington said it continues to back dialogue between Damascus and the SDF, particularly around a previously announced integration agreement.

“Ambassador (Tom) Barrack continues to support and facilitate dialogue between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces,” a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu, adding that the meetings facilitated by the US special envoy for Syria focused on “the implementation of and recommitment to the March 10 integration agreement.”

Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye Barrack urged all sides to “exercise the utmost restraint and to place the protection of civilian lives and property above all other considerations.”

Barrack highlighted recent progress in Syria’s post-conflict recovery and underscored the importance of implementing the March 10 agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF.

“Just this past week, we stood on the threshold of successfully concluding the March 10 integration agreement ... an accord that would significantly advance security coordination, shared governance, and national unity. That objective remains eminently achievable,” he said.

“We therefore issue an urgent appeal to the leadership of the Syrian government, SDF, local authorities in Kurdish-administered areas, and all armed actors on the ground: pause hostilities, reduce tensions immediately, and commit to de-escalation,” he added.

“All parties should focus on how to build a peaceful, stable Syria that protects and serves the interests of all Syrians, rather than pushing the country back into a cycle of violence,” the spokesperson said.

The Syrian presidency had announced the signing of the agreement on March 10 last year, providing for the SDF’s integration into state institutions and reaffirming the country's territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.

Syrian authorities say that in the months since, the SDF has not shown any efforts to meet the terms of the agreement.

The Syrian government has intensified efforts to maintain security across the country since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Dec. 8, 2024, after 24 years in power.

*Contributions by Michael Hernandez from Washington, DC