The United States is spearheading urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent all-out war between the Syrian Arab Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, with a high-level meeting set for Saturday in Erbil.

According to informed sources cited by Al-Monitor, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack will meet directly with SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi. The talks will be mediated by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, underscoring the regional stakes.

The emergency session follows a dangerous surge in hostilities over the past week. Tensions have simmered since the Syrian government issued renewed threats of military action against SDF-held areas in the north and east. These threats turned violent with clashes in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh, leading to the withdrawal of local Kurdish security forces after days of fighting.

Observers warn that the escalating conflict jeopardizes a landmark agreement signed on March 10, 2025, between Abdi and Syrian government negotiator Ahmed al-Sharaa. That roadmap was meant to integrate the SDF’s autonomous administration into Syrian state institutions—a process now teetering on the brink of collapse.

The planned diplomacy coincides with intense military activity on the ground. The U.S.-led coalition has engaged directly, with a delegation and a large number of coalition forces meeting SDF commanders in the eastern Aleppo towns of Maskanah and Deir Hafer this week. These talks occurred under fire, with Kurdish officials reporting ongoing artillery shelling and drone attacks in the area.

"The talks were held in Deir Hafer, where Syrian government troops had been deployed near the town while demanding that Kurdish forces withdraw," said Farhad Shami, spokesman for the SDF. A Syrian military source separately confirmed the entry of the coalition convoy.

The SDF Media Center reported that pro-Damascus factions intensified shelling of populated areas in Deir Hafer early Friday, with over twenty artillery shells hitting the city within an hour and an explosive-laden drone attack targeting residential neighborhoods. The SDF stated its forces are "monitoring developments and taking measures to protect residents."

The Syrian Arab Army has redeployed reinforcements from Latakia province toward the Deir Hafer front, signaling a potential preparation for larger operations. Syrian state media framed the move as a response to clashes in Aleppo.

Amid the chaos, the SDF issued a stark warning about security risks at detention facilities holding thousands of ISIS members. It stated that while the prisons remain secure for now, continued escalation could allow ISIS sleeper cells to exploit the instability, with catastrophic consequences.