US Congress Warns of Rising Threats to Kurds in Post-Assad Syria

World 10:11 PM - 2026-02-10

The US Congress.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing this week to examine Syria’s trajectory following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, amid mounting warnings over escalating violations against Kurds and other religious and ethnic communities. Lawmakers and experts stressed that any future engagement with Damascus must be tied to firm guarantees for minority protection and the prevention of renewed violence.

During the hearing, Nadine Maenza, former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, warned that Syria could face the risk of a new genocide within the next four years if the country’s new authorities fail to fundamentally alter their policies. In testimony before Congress, Maenza cited what she described as “horrifying evidence” of beheadings and torture of Kurdish fighters carried out by forces recently incorporated into Syria’s official security apparatus.

Maenza called for the passage of the Save the Kurds Act, arguing that any US engagement or normalisation with Damascus must be conditional on credible guarantees for the protection of predominantly Kurdish regions. She further cautioned that the pluralistic governance model developed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is under direct threat, pointing to the rise of Islamist figures to senior positions within the institutions of the new Syrian state.

She also addressed the agreement signed on 30 January between the SDF and the government in Damascus, stressing that its value can only be judged by concrete implementation on the ground. Maenza warned that offering symbolic representation to Kurds while promoting individuals accused of war crimes and subject to international sanctions to senior roles places Kurdish communities at existential risk and undermines claims of equal citizenship.

Centralisation and Superficial Reform

Andrew Tabler, a researcher at the Institute for Near East Policy, echoed these concerns, arguing that the governance model emerging in Damascus remains highly centralised and treats Syria’s diverse communities in a largely formalistic manner rather than as genuine partners in power.

Tabler warned that excluding Kurdish actors from the national dialogue process would erode the legitimacy of the new authorities in northeastern Syria. He told the committee that the integration of security forces appears to resemble a “re-raising of the flag” rather than meaningful institutional reform, noting that many militias — including Turkish-backed factions — continue to operate with independent chains of command. This, he said, leaves Kurdish-majority areas in a state of uncertainty and fragmented sovereignty.

He added that Washington appears to be pursuing a “good cop with selective bad cop” approach towards Damascus, arguing that the real test will be whether the United States is willing to reimpose sanctions if necessary to protect the SDF and Kurdish civilians from ongoing military pressure.

A Moral Obligation

Former US Ambassador to Syria James Jeffrey told lawmakers that the United States has a “moral obligation” to ensure its Kurdish allies are not mistreated by the new Syrian authorities. As implementation of the January 30 SDF integration agreement moves forward, he said, Washington must act as a genuine guarantor of Kurdish rights.

Jeffrey reminded Congress that the US relationship with the SDF has historically been “temporary, tactical and reciprocal”, but argued that the collapse of Assad’s regime has shifted the political landscape. He nonetheless questioned how Washington would balance its emerging relationship with Damascus with longstanding Kurdish demands for autonomy and security.

While stressing that integrating the SDF into a unified Syrian state remains important for counter-terrorism efforts, Jeffrey warned that the success of the transition depends on whether Damascus honours its commitments to the Kurds.

Lawmakers Warn of Escalating Violence

Representative Gregory Meeks, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned of a disturbing rise in violence against religious and ethnic minorities across Syria, including attacks on places of worship. He said such developments threaten any prospect of building a stable and inclusive post-Assad Syria.

Meeks reaffirmed that the SDF remains a key US partner in the fight against terrorism, noting that Kurdish forces who allied with Washington against ISIS now face renewed violence and uncertainty. While welcoming the January 30 agreement between Damascus and the SDF, he stressed the need for tangible action from Syrian leaders to halt abuses and protect all communities.

Committee Chairman Brian Mast struck a similar tone, stating that Syria remains far from meeting US expectations. He described recent actions against the Druze, Kurds and other US partners as a step in the wrong direction, making clear that any easing of Caesar Act sanctions would be contingent on protecting minorities, implementing genuine military reforms and cooperating with the United States on counter-terrorism.

Competing Visions for Syria’s Future

Dr Mara Karlin, professor of practice at Johns Hopkins University and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, highlighted a fundamental disagreement over Syria’s future governance. She noted that while Damascus is pursuing a highly centralised vision of a “united Syria”, the SDF advocates a decentralised model that reflects the country’s ethnic and political diversity.

“For the Kurds, genuine integration into the Syrian state requires real security and a clear political and cultural future within that framework,” Karlin said.

She added that recognising Kurdish as a national language would be a significant indicator of Syria’s future direction, but warned that Kurdish security must not be sacrificed for the sake of rapid or superficial solutions promoted under the banner of national unity. Karlin urged the United States and the international community to provide incentives to both sides to prevent a renewed cycle of violence.



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