C.P. Ward
Nov 16, 2025

The Euphrates, which runs for 700 miles across Syria, has become a physical dividing line between two forces now contesting the future of the fragile country. The near bank is the limit of control by the Syrian government led from Damascus, while on the far bank are the positions of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF, a Kurdish-led force that emerged during Syria’s civil war in opposition to the Bashar al-Assad regime, played a key role in the fight against the Islamic State. During the conflict, they captured large expanses of territory predominantly populated by Arabs on the far bank of the Euphrates.