Salih Muslim claims Paris summit triggered Syria escalation

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE — Salih Muslim, a member of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Presidential Council, alleged that secret negotiations in Paris are the primary driver behind the violent clashes that escalated across Syria in January 2026.

Muslim characterized the sudden surge in violence as an international "conspiracy" specifically designed to liquidate Kurdish autonomy in the region. Warning that Syria is rapidly "turning into Afghanistan," the PYD official claimed that recent diplomatic maneuvers have directly undermined the security of Kurdish-led administrations.

Allegations of a secret Paris summit

According to Muslim, the clashes that erupted on 6 January 2026 in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods of Aleppo were not coincidental. He asserted that the fuse for this escalation was lit during a summit held in Paris on 5-6 January. Muslim claimed this meeting, reportedly mediated by the United States, brought together Syrian and Israeli delegations to discuss a concept that would effectively end the political existence of Rojava.

"We realized that this is not just a small clash; it is a plan to take over the [Kurdish] autonomy," Muslim stated regarding the aftermath of the alleged summit.

Criticism of US and Damascus roles

The PYD official also targeted U.S. officials, specifically criticizing statements made by Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria. Muslim expressed dismay over Barrack’s comment that "our goal was dialogue and we succeeded," noting that "treacherous" attacks against Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions began immediately following this purported consensus. He described the U.S. stance as "surprising and disturbing" in the context of their existing alliance.

Furthermore, Muslim accused the Damascus administration of deliberately releasing ISIS militants from prisons. He alleged this move was a strategic attempt by the Syrian government to reclaim territories currently under the control of the SDF by utilizing extremist elements to destabilize the region.

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