According to Haaretz writer Zvi Barel, the agreement between the YPG and the administration of Syrian President Ahmed Shara accelerated the “unified Syria” process backed by Washington and Türkiye. This development significantly weakened Israel’s strategy of using YPG and Druze elements against Damascus, Tehran and Ankara to ensure that Syria remained divided.
Barel stated that the United States’ policy toward the Kurds in Syria had become clearer and that Tom Barrack had put intense pressure on the YPG to reach the agreement. With the YPG sidelined, it was said that Israel’s strategic options on the ground were largely limited to some Druze groups in Suwayda province.
Why it matters
The impact of the agreement does not appear to be limited to the relationship between the two actors on the ground; it also has implications for the goal of a unified Syria backed by Washington and Türkiye. The YPG’s declining role on the ground means that the tools Israel can use against Damascus, Tehran and Ankara are becoming more limited. The clarification of US policy and Tom Barrack’s pressure show that the agreement did not develop independently of the positions taken by external actors. Therefore, the restriction of Israel’s options to some Druze groups in Suwayda province indicates that its sphere of influence in the region has shifted to a narrower footing. However, it remains unclear to what extent these groups can be used and how relations with the Damascus administration will take shape.
Background
Syria is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 7 news reports mentioning it in the last 90 days; the most recent was dated August 31, 2026.