The Trump governance has issued stark warnings that Syria could descend into a full-blown civil war within a matter of weeks. These concerns arise amidst ongoing clashes between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish units along the Euphrates River, coupled with escalating sectarian violence in the southern regions of the country.

The current transitional goverment, led by a former al-Qaeda commander, is struggling to maintain control and unify the nation. U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “It is indeed our assessment that, frankly, the transitional authorities, given the challenges they’re facing, are maybe weeks, not many months, away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions.”

Recent reports indicate heavy fighting around the Tishreen Dam, a strategic location contested by Turkish-backed forces, HTS, and Kurdish factions. While a ceasefire is in effect, reports suggest that Turkish forces continue drone strikes and artillery shelling in the area. Mohammad Ahmed of the Free Burma Rangers reported, “Daytime and nighttime… we hear the airstrikes destroyed all this building. They never stop.”

In response, the syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are reinforcing cities by constructing tunnels, barriers, and camouflaged pathways to mitigate the impact of drone attacks. Fighters are creating passages between buildings to avoid street exposure during urban combat. An underground network of tunnels extends for miles under the city of Kobani and throughout the region.

Syriac Military Council President Aram Hanna affirmed his group’s resolve not to surrender to terrorists or oppressive regimes. “HTS and the Assad regime, and even the FSA and SNA-they attacked us by airplanes or by air attacks. And the Turks are doing the same. There’s no difference.We won’t except to let our guns down now.I think we will give our guns to who? ISIS, which is ruling Syria now? I mean, it’s impossible for us,” Hanna said.

Having lost over 12,000 fighters in the battle against ISIS, Kurdish communities express dismay, viewing the current “transitional government” as reminiscent of the caliphate they fought to dismantle. Kurdish civilian Samira stated, “I can’t believe them because they, before, now ISIS when us support the new government. For me, it’s so surprise why they do that. You know him (Ahmed al-Sharaa), what he done before now.”

Hanna emphasized the need for inclusivity: “We’ll stay fighting until we have a real plan that contain us all-as the Syrians, Christian Syrians, Syriac Syrians, Armenian Syrians, Kurdish Syrians-and all of us. It’s our country.”

The Free Burma Rangers, active in Syria as 2016, advocate for sustained U.S.support to avert further bloodshed. Dave eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers, warned, “The Euphrates River is the westernmost frontline for (Syrian)Democratic Forces and they’re holding that very tenuously. Without international support… just because of Turkish air power alone, the Syrian National Army will push the Kurds out, which means the Kurds, the christians, the Yazidis, other minorities will be slaughtered.”

As the U.S. reduces its military presence, anxieties are growing among Kurds in the northeast, who increasingly distrust the new regime. Eubank noted, “Everyone is grateful and hopeful the U.S. will stay. (The) United States cannot solve the problem here, nor should it, but our presence has and continues to create a space for people to solve these problems. It creates a space with the Kurds, the Christians, the Muslims, the Azd are working together and they’re working together pretty well here in the SDF-controlled area.”