In a landmark political and military shift, Syria’s transitional government and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have launched the first phase of an agreement to unify civil and military institutions under a single national framework. Reporting from Aleppo, Rizik Alabi details [1] the start of prisoner exchanges and administrative handovers that signal a tentative end to years of de facto autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled northeast. The deal, signed on March 10 by transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, calls for full reintegration of SDF territory into the Syrian state by year’s end.
The agreement includes joint executive oversight, amnesty measures, and commitments to preserve Kurdish cultural and political rights. It also sets the stage for broader national reconciliation after more than a decade of civil war. While Aleppo has seen initial steps like the handover of security posts and the exchange of 240 detainees, questions remain about long-term implementation—particularly in light of ongoing US sanctions and Turkish concerns about Kurdish influence.
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Notably, the United States has not taken a definitive position. A recent list of conditions sent to Damascus could offer a pathway to limited sanctions relief, but Washington remains divided. Turkey’s silence so far suggests cautious approval, though analysts expect it to pressure Syria against expanded Kurdish autonomy.
The agreement represents one of the most consequential developments in Syria in years. Still, as Alabi reports, success depends not just on local cooperation but also on how external powers—especially the US—choose to respond. For deeper insight into the fragile but historic deal, read the full article [1] by Rizik Alabi at The Media Line.