Syria has reached an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces for their integration into state institutions, which would place SDF-controlled territories under Syrian government authority. This deal signifies a major step towards unifying military and civilian institutions in the region, occurring in the context of significant political changes following Assad’s ousting.
Syria’s new leadership has announced an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) regarding their integration into state structures. Should this agreement come to fruition, the territories currently overseen by the SDF will fall entirely under the control of the Syrian government. This information was disseminated by the press office of Syria’s President and reported by Qatari network Al Jazeera.
The agreement was formalized by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the head of the SDF. The document highlights Syria’s unity, mandating the consolidation of “all civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria” into the administration of the Syrian state, which includes border crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, a military alliance established in 2015 with backing from the US-led coalition, forms a significant part of Syria’s northern defense. The SDF comprises Kurdish self-defense units and also integrates factions of the Syrian Arab opposition, as well as Assyrian and Turkmen elements, with a stronghold in northern Syria.
Since 2015, the US-supported SDF has maintained control over an autonomous region in northeastern Syria, as indicated on the relevant maps.
The political landscape dramatically shifted when the Syrian opposition captured Damascus on December 8, 2024, leading to the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who had governed for 24 years before fleeing to Moscow. In the wake of this regime change, Syrian rebels established a transitional government under Muhammad al-Bashir, the leader of the ‘Salvation Government’ formed in 2017. Ahmad al-Sharaa, a prominent figure in the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group, has since taken on the interim presidency of the newly unified Syria.
In conclusion, the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces signifies a pivotal shift in Syria’s political structure. It reflects the integration of diverse military and civilian institutions under the Syrian state, potentially reshaping governance across northeastern regions. This development follows significant political upheaval, including the overthrow of al-Assad’s long-standing regime, further altering the dynamics within the region.
Original Source: babel.ua