Seban Hamo: The Success of the Integration Process Depends on Respecting the Identity of the Forces and the Rights of Syrian Components

Seban Hamo, member of the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and a member of the military negotiation committee with the Interim Government, stated that the SDF is ready to join the newly planned Syrian army, “provided that the integration process is based on principles that respect the identity of the forces, their struggle, and sacrifices, and guarantees the rights of all components of the Syrian people without exception.”

In an extensive interview conducted by the SDF Media Center, Hamo emphasized that the forthcoming steps of the Interim Government will determine the course of the integration process, “whether it is accelerated, slowed down, or even frozen,” pointing out that the SDF will remain a national unifying force defending all Syrians.

He explained that the term “integration” has been introduced in negotiation discourse since the signing of the March 10, 2025 agreement, stressing that integration is not merely a military procedure but a political step towards building a national army. He noted that “any new Syrian army cannot be built without the participation of the SDF, which has fought decisive battles against ISIS and made significant sacrifices for Syria’s unity.”

Hamo added that “some parties within the Interim Government still think with the mentality of the former regime and try to impose visions aimed at canceling or marginalizing the SDF’s identity,” describing this as “unacceptable and cannot be called national.” He stressed that any integration process must recognize the role of the SDF and the rights of all Syrian components: “Sunnis, Kurds, Druze, Alawites, and Christians.”

Positive Atmosphere but No Concrete Results

Hamo pointed out that the recent meeting in Damascus, which involved the Ministry of Defense and American officials, was characterized by a positive atmosphere but did not result in any written agreements, only general promises. He said, “We demanded that this atmosphere be translated into practical steps on the ground.”

He explained that trust obstacles still exist, and the Interim Government has not taken sufficient measures to instill reassurance among the components, referring to recent mass killings targeting Alawites and Druze and the widespread security chaos, describing these practices as “a serious challenge to integration efforts.”

Hamo also highlighted that the recent attack on Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo, despite the withdrawal of SDF forces according to the March agreement, raised significant concerns about the intentions of some parties within the Interim Government. He said, “While we talk about integration, government-affiliated factions are attacking the neighborhood from ten axes, which contradicts the positive rhetoric we hear.”

Return of Afrin Residents

Hamo clarified that accelerating the integration process depends on the Interim Government’s steps regarding the rights of the components, noting that the government’s stance on the Afrin issue “will be the true measure of intentions.”

He stated, “The return of displaced Afrin residents, compensation for those affected, and holding accountable those responsible for violations will be indicators of the government’s seriousness in building a national army. If they act justly towards Afrin, the government can be viewed differently.”

Hamo emphasized that the SDF “has proven to be the only national force capable of communicating with all Syrian components and is ready to be the core of the new Syrian army and a guarantee for correcting the political and military course.”