Kurdish-Led SDF To Join Syrian State in Landmark Agreement
The Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an accord with the Damascus government on Monday, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency. The agreement, witnessed by photos of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Damascus, paves the way for integrating SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions in Syria’s oil-rich northeast into the state’s new administrative framework.
The accord outlines the incorporation of key SDF-held assets, including border crossings, an airport, and vital oil and gas fields, into the Damascus administration. It comes at a critical juncture for the Syrian government, which is grappling with widespread violence and sectarian tensions. Interim President Sharaa is facing intense scrutiny following the mass killings of Alawite minority members in western Syria—a crisis he warned could derail his broader efforts to reunite a country fractured by 14 years of conflict.
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In a post on social media platform X, Commander Abdi hailed the deal as a “real opportunity to build a new Syria,” emphasizing that the SDF’s cooperation with the Syrian authorities is crucial during this turbulent period. However, the pact leaves unresolved issues regarding the integration of the SDF’s military operations into Syria’s defence ministry—a point that remains a major sticking point in ongoing discussions.
The agreement also commits the SDF to actively counter remnants of former President Bashar Assad’s regime, which insurgents toppled in December after Assad fled to Russia. Meanwhile, the Damascus government has accused Assad loyalists of stoking unrest in western Syria—a region that has seen hundreds of civilians killed in recent days as government forces attempt to quell what they describe as an insurrection.
