“The only card remaining in the hands of the Americans and their allies is the SDF, and it will be dealt with through the two methods used by the Syrian state: national reconciliation or the liberation of the areas that they control through force,” Syrian Defense Minister General Ali Abdullah Ayoub said.

“The Americans must leave and will leave,” he said.

Large areas of Syria have been brought back under government control through “reconciliation agreements” that have typically been concluded after the military defeat of rebel forces.

The SDF control around a third of Syria after expelling Islamic State (IS) militants from a large northeastern swathe of the war-torn country with backing from the US-led coalition.

The Kurds want to safeguard their autonomous region inside a decentralized state when US troops currently backing them pull out. They also hope a deal with Damascus would dissuade neighboring Turkey from attacking them.

Ankara wants the area near the Turkish border to be cleared of the US-backed People’s Protection Units (YPG) and to move into territory there, some of which is currently controlled by US forces.

Reporter’s code: 50101