reported from the source

Quick summary: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has declared Kurdish a national language and granted national rights to the Kurdish minority amid ongoing tensions and clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces in Aleppo.

On Friday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a ‘national language’ in response to recent clashes between the army and Kurdish forces in Aleppo. The declaration is seen as a gesture towards the Kurdish minority, who have resisted integration into the state and called for a decentralized federal system, which the Syrian government rejects. The decree also recognizes the Kurdish new year, Nowruz, as a national holiday and restores nationality to Kurds who had been stripped of it under a controversial 1962 census. This move comes as the Syrian army has warned of new strikes east of Aleppo, following its recent military actions against Kurdish forces. The Syrian government has been attempting to reassert its authority across the country after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, but disagreements with Kurdish forces have led to ongoing violence. Meanwhile, the US-led coalition has been engaged in discussions with Kurdish leaders to ease tensions. Reports indicate that over 4,000 civilians have fled the Kurdish-controlled region of Deir Hafer amid the escalating conflict, with the Syrian military urging members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to defect. Analysts suggest that while the capture of Kurdish areas in Aleppo does not significantly alter the military balance, it demonstrates the Syrian government’s ability to exert pressure when negotiations falter.

Source: www.france24.com