The United States is facing a crisis as its two allies in Syria clash in the war-torn city of Aleppo, the fiercest fighting yet between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces.

The U.S.’s main ally in Syria during the civil war was the Syrian Democratic Forces, a militia network primarily made up of Kurds. After the forces of now-President Ahmed al Sharaa toppled the Assad government in December 2024 and seized Damascus, the Trump administration threw its weight behind the new government over the Kurds. The U.S. achieved a balance of the two forces, helping to negotiate a deal between the two to integrate Kurdish forces into the Syrian state military in March.