Preliminary Agreement to Integrate Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian Army

The General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, announced yesterday, Thursday, the conclusion of a preliminary agreement to integrate the SDF as a unified bloc within the Syrian army, in a move described as paving the way to end the military division in the country.

Abdi stated, in remarks reported by the Associated Press, that the agreement stipulates granting his commanders and fighters high-ranking positions within the Ministry of Defense in the transitional government, noting that this step will ensure fair representation of the SDF within the official military institution.

The general commander explained that the combat experience accumulated by the SDF during its battles against ISIS will contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the Syrian army and restructuring it on professional and national foundations. He also pointed out that the police forces and security administrations operating in northern and eastern Syria will be integrated into the Syrian national security agencies as part of the process of reuniting the military and security institutions.

Abdi confirmed that the implementation of the agreement is linked to reaching a comprehensive political understanding among Syrians, considering that the success of this path “will remove any justification for Turkish intervention in Syrian affairs.”

In this context, the general commander noted that recent developments in Suwayda and the Syrian coast have delayed the implementation of the agreement signed with the transitional government on March 10.

Abdi added that during a visit to Damascus earlier this month, he held meetings with senior officials, including Farouk al-Shar`a and the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, during which they agreed on a mechanism to integrate the SDF into the structure of the unified Syrian army.

This announcement comes at a time when the country is witnessing escalating field and political tensions. The Syrian government held parliamentary elections that did not include areas controlled by the SDF, coinciding with limited clashes between security forces and Kurdish fighters in neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Abdi’s statements were also made during a visit to one of the anti-terrorism units’ teams on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Syrian Democratic Forces, where he stressed that the upcoming phase “requires Syrian unity to face common challenges.”