This Sunday, Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi touched down in Damascus for crucial talks with government officials. At the heart of the agenda? Integrating his Kurdish-led forces into the central Syrian military 🤝⚔️, a plan originally set to wrap up by the end of 2025.
Here’s the scoop: Abdi’s Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control much of Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, and with US-led coalition support, they were key to defeating the Islamic State in 2019. Bringing them into the official army aims to unify command and ease regional tensions.
But the path to integration has hit roadblocks. The deal signed last March with President Ahmed al-Sharaa stalled as both sides clashed over decentralization versus central authority — a flashpoint since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster a year ago. In December, Damascus pitched breaking the SDF into three divisions and several brigades (including one for women!), all led by SDF commanders in their territories.
Abdi’s team is currently meeting with Damascus representatives to nail down the details, says an SDF statement. Meanwhile, Türkiye — a key ally of Syria’s new leadership — is watching closely, viewing Kurdish forces on its border as a security concern and urging their integration under state control.
As these talks unfold in the Syrian capital, all eyes are on whether Abdi can keep the integration process alive after a missed deadline. For a region craving stability, the outcome could reshape Syria’s future map of power 🗺️.
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Syrian Kurdish leader in Damascus for talks on military integration
cgtn.com
