The rapid conquest by [name not provided] of important areas and towns previously under the control of the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached its culmination on Sunday with a fragile ceasefire agreement, accompanied by a stern warning from a powerful U.S. Senator and experts regarding the reported crimes of the forces controlled by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told [news organization not named] Digital, “The Syrian government’s decree to respect Kurdish rights is a positive sign, but the actions of its forces on the ground must align. Division and violence among U.S. partners in Syria only benefit bad actors such as ISIS and Iran, which exploit Syria as a breeding ground for international terrorism, including against the U.S. I welcome the [ceasefire] and will closely monitor its implementation.”

Al-Sharaa, a former U.S.-designated terrorist who was part of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, was ruled peacefully by the SDF for over a decade.

In the midst of Risch’s warning, reports from Syria claim that skirmishes between the Syrian army and the SDF continue.

The news organization, [name not provided], presented alleged footage of al-Sharaa’s forces releasing Islamic State prisoners. According to the report, “The Syrian Arab Army releases [prisoners] in al-Tabqah city.”

The footage has been widely shared on social media. [News organization not named] Digital was unable to independently verify the video.

The State Department directed [news organization not named] Digital to an X post from the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, who also serves as the Special Envoy for Syria. Barrack wrote on X about the agreement between SDF General Mazloum Abdi and al-Sharra.

“Two great Syrian leaders, motivated by the shared goal of liberating their country and people from tyranny, have now joined forces to create a brighter future for all Syrians. This agreement and ceasefire represent a crucial turning point, where former adversaries embrace partnership instead of division.”

Barrack added, “President al-Sharaa has affirmed that the Kurds are an integral part of Syria, and the United States anticipates the seamless integration of our historic partner in the fight against ISIS with the Global Coalition’s newest member as we continue the ongoing battle against terrorism.”

However, the commander of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), Sipan Hamo – a Syrian organization that is part of the SDF – stated that the Saturday meeting between U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and Kurdish officials did not produce a roadmap for a ceasefire. He denied that Syria’s Kurds wanted to secede or create an independent state and said their future lies in Syria.

“Our greatest hope is that there will be a tangible result, especially from the coalition and the United States, meaning that they will intervene more forcefully in the existing issues than they are currently doing,” Hamo said.

The head of the main Kurdish forces told Reuters that the U.S. should intervene more forcefully to end a Syrian offensive that has acquired key territory from Kurdish fighters in recent days.

Government troops launched an offensive on Saturday into territory administered by semi-autonomous Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria for the past decade, capturing towns on both sides of the Euphrates River and the country’s largest oil and gas field, according to officials and security sources.

But considering the Kurds’ “concerns about the ongoing changes,” the U.S. should provide assurances of protection.

Hamo said, “In the current situation and the chaos we are experiencing, the only ones who can offer guarantees are the United States or the coalition,” he added in a rare interview from Hasakeh province, which remains under Kurdish control.

“We believe that the responsibility for everything currently happening in Syria lies with Western countries, particularly the United States of America,” he said.

“Of course, we view Israel as a powerful state in the region with its own agenda. We hope that the same stance taken by other countries in the region towards certain minorities in Syria will also be extended to the Kurds,” Hamo said.

When asked if he was referring to Israel’s stance towards the Druze minority last summer – when Israel conducted airstrikes on the defense ministry, near the presidential palace in Damascus, and on Syrian troops advancing on Druze cities – Hamo said, “of course.”

Mutlu Civiroglu, a Kurdish affairs analyst, told [news organization not named] Digital, “President Trump has spoken about giving Syria and all its people a fresh chance to start anew. However, Ahmed al Sharaa’s actions seem to go against that intention, and many Kurds believe he is misusing the political space that was intended to support stability rather than increase tensions.”

Civiroglu added, “I don’t think the U.S. is abandoning the Kurds, but President Trump’s good intention is being exploited by Sharaa. Lawmakers in Washington have also expressed unease about the [treatment] of minorities, which reflects broader questions about its commitment to inclusive governance.”

Civiroglu posted footage on his popular X account of al-Sharaa supporters toppling “a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after interim Syrian government forces seized Tabqa from the SDF. [The town] was liberated from ISIS by the United States in May 2017.”

Civiroglu said, “al-Sharaa’s confrontations with Kurdish forces, following earlier pressure on Alawite and Druze areas, strengthen doubts about the interim government’s legitimacy and its ability to represent Syria’s diverse population.”

“The international community must remember that the Kurdish people have long fought alongside the United States, France, and the West in the campaign against ISIS, and many are closely watching to see how these partners interpret the latest escalation,” he said.

Max Abrahms, a leading expert on counter-terrorism and a professor of political science at Northeastern University, told [news organization not named] Digital, “The YPG and then the SDF were America’s primary [ally] against the Islamic State in Syria during the war. Unlike the so-called ‘rebels,’ our Kurdish warrior friends demonstrated both capability and moderation. It’s not surprising that the jihadists, upon taking power in Damascus, would turn their weapons against the Kurdish forces. Of course, we need to stand by them.”