The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH

23rd January 2025

Dear Yvette,

Re: The Deteriorating Security Situation in North-East Syria

Dear Yvette,

As a group of cross-party MPs and Peers, we are writing to you to express our concern about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in North-East Syria, where Kurdish communities face a real and imminent threat of violence.

Over the past few days, forces under the direction of President Ahmed al-Sharaa have escalated their presence in North-East Syria, following the withdrawal of the Western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Credible reporting indicates severe risk to civilian life, with local authorities also reporting that more than 150,000 people have been displaced. Syrian authorities have confirmed that thousands of civilians have fled the area, amid warnings of landmines and unexploded ordnance.

The SDF’s withdrawal comes as a direct response to attacks from Syrian Government forces, including units linked directly to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. These include the Hamza Division, the Sultan Murad Division, and the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, all of which are designated under the UK’s sanctions regimes for their role in violent attacks against civilians.

Unfortunately, the current violence risks inflicting even more harm on innocent civilians, and particularly on the local Kurdish population. Early reports indicate indiscriminate attacks against Kurdish communities.

Of particular note is the SDF’s withdrawal from Al-Hol Camp, where the ISIS-linked families were being held, due to ongoing shelling and attacks by Syrian Government forces. Similarly, the SDF was forced to withdraw from Al-Shadadi Camp, where a reported 2,000 ISIS fighters were being held. The subsequent uncertainty over what will now happen to these ISIS fighters is deeply concerning, given the potential implications for regional and national security.

For Kurdish communities, consistently some of the UK’s staunchest allies in the region, the ongoing escalation foreshadows a return to the days of widespread ISIS terror in Syria. Given the incredible resolve that Kurdish communities displayed in defeating ISIS in Syria, the UK owes Syrian Kurds its support.

These developments demand more than expressions of concern, and calls for de-escalation. The UK must now work closely with its partners, both in the region and beyond, to coordinate a response which protects Kurdish communities in North-East Syria, and ensures a long–lasting and sustainable settlement for the region. It must do so rapidly, given how quickly the situation is evolving, and it must do so decisively.

In particular, we urge the Government to:

1. Make clear its position against violence against civilians, and in favour of a long- standing political settlement in Syria which respects the rights of all minority groups;

2. Consider targeted sanctions against individuals and entities found to be responsible for violence against civilians;

3. Intensify its diplomatic efforts with both regional and global allies, to prevent further military escalation and to protect civilian populations;

4. Ensure that sufficient humanitarian aid is provided to communities in North-East Syria, and that this aid is safeguarded as it is delivered.

A failure to act quickly and decisively risks enabling a further escalation of violence, and puts Kurdish communities in Syria at risk. The safety of Kurdish communities – and of minority populations in Syria more broadly – is a matter of deep concern for the UK.

We eagerly await your response, and for a clarification on what the Government intends to do to prevent this situation from deteriorating even further. This country owes a debt of gratitude to the countless Kurdish men and women who have stood bravely against ISIS terror over many years. The very least that we can do to repay them is to take action in this hour of grave need.

Best wishes,

Luke Akehurst MP

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP

Dr Scott Arthur MP

Richard Baker MP

Alex Ballinger MP

Paula Barker MP

Sian Berry MP

Chris Bloore MP

Dawn Butler MP

Maureen Burke MP

Ruth Cadbury MP

Sarah Champion MP

Bambos Charalambous MP

Feryal Clark MP

Dr Beccy Cooper MP

Daisy Cooper MPStella Creasy MP

Steve Darling MP

Carla Denyer MP

Jim Dickson MP

Mary Kelly Foy MP

Daniel Francis MP

Andrew George MP

Terry Jermy MP

Kim Johnson MP

Ben Lake MP

Peter Lamb MP

Chris Law MP

Noah Law MP

Siobhan McDonagh MP

John McDonnell MP

Llinos Medi MP

Navendu Mishra MP

Grahame Morris MP

Brendan O’Hara MP

Chi Onwurah MP

Kate Osborne MP

Toby Perkins MP

Adrian Ramsey MP

Marie Rimmer MP

Oliver Ryan MP

Liz Saville Roberts MP

Jim Shannon MP

Sarah Smith MP

Alex Sobel MP

Ian Sollom MP

Kirsteen Sullivan MP

Henry Tufnell MP

Derek Twigg MP

Chris Webb MP

Nadia Whittome MP

Gavin Williamson MP

Sean Woodcock MP

Lord Alton of Liverpool

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

Baroness Carberry

Lord Cashman

Lord Doyle

Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

Baroness GoudieLord Hain

Lord Hendy

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

Lord Khan of Burnley

Lord Kinnock

Lord Mann

Lord Moraes

Lord Moynihan

Lord Ranger

Lord Singh of Wimbledon