US Welcomes Syria-SDF Deal Integrating Kurdish Forces into State Institutions
The United States has expressed its support for a landmark agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the SDF into state institutions, Al Jazeera reports.
The deal, which grants the central government full control of the semi-autonomous region administered by the Kurdish-led alliance since 2015, is being hailed as a significant step towards a unified and stable Syria.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement Tuesday reaffirming Washington’s commitment to a political transition in Syria.
“The United States reaffirms its support for a political transition that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict,” Rubio stated. “We will continue to watch the decisions made by the interim authorities, noting with concern the recent deadly violence against minorities.”
The agreement, announced Monday by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, details a merger of “all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria” into the national administration. Key infrastructure, including an airport and oil and gas fields, will also be transferred under government control.
The accord is considered one of the most important political developments in Syria since the fall of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December, overthrown by Syrian opposition forces led by al-Sharaa. The timing of the agreement is critical, as Damascus grapples with the repercussions of recent violence in the Alawite minority heartland.
Key aspects of the deal include a nationwide ceasefire, SDF assistance in combating pro-Assad fighters, and a guarantee of constitutional rights and citizenship for the Kurdish population, affirming their integral role within Syria.
Negotiations to integrate the SDF had been ongoing since al-Assad’s removal, but faced obstacles due to skepticism about the group’s commitment to opposing the previous regime.
The US has maintained a strong partnership with the SDF in the fight against ISIL (ISIS), culminating in the dismantling of the terror group’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria in 2019. However, this alliance has strained relations with Turkey, which considers the SDF an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated “terrorist” organization by Ankara.
