Syrian Kurds in talks with Damascus over future of key dam

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria are in discussion with the new government in Damascus about control of Tishreen Dam, which has been under frequent attacks by militias for months, a senior dam official told Rudaw English on Saturday.

“There are discussions between the Autonomous Administration and the Damascus government, but there is nothing certain yet. What is certain is that the staff of the dam will continue their work,” the Kurdish official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

He said talks are “ongoing regarding military forces” controlling the dam and denied reports that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to hand over the control to Damascus.

He anticipated the talks, which began on Sunday, will continue for about a month until an agreement is reached.

Tishreen Dam, located in northern Syria on the Euphrates River, was constructed in 1999 and is one of Syria’s largest in terms of capacity and power generation.

Turkey and the Syrian militia groups it supports began a military campaign in November, seeking to seize control of the dam for easier access into other areas held by the SDF.

The surrounding area remains a hotspot of conflict, though the dam itself has not come under attack for the past two weeks. Workers have used the brief window of opportunity to repair damage caused by the conflict, a senior dam official told Rudaw on Monday.