ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s national army will begin soon and will include its specialized counterterrorism unit sharing its expertise across the country, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi announced on Friday.
“The SDF will become a strong part of the new Syrian army. In the coming days, we as the SDF command, will dispatch a delegation to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus in order to implement the March 10 agreement. The process of SDF’s integration into the Syrian army will begin,” Abdi said while addressing the SDF’s Anti-Terrorism Units (YAT).
In the March 10 agreement signed by Abdi and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, they agreed to integrate the political and security institutions of the Kurdish enclave in northeast Syria (Rojava) into state bodies, including the SDF. The United States and France have played the roles of mediators and guarantors in the negotiations.
Earlier this week, Abdi visited Damascus to meet with Sharaa. They reached a verbal agreement on several issues, including a nationwide ceasefire to end deadly clashes between the two sides in the north of the country. Sinam Mohamad, a Rojava representative in Washington, told Rudaw English on Thursday that the deal is the continuation of the March agreement.
Abdi also announced that the YAT will be deployed across Syria to help the new Syrian security apparatus in the fight against ISIS.
“In the new Syria, in addition to the SDF’s integration into the Syrian new army, our anti-terrorism forces (YAT) will also play a new role. Their work will not be limited to northeast Syria, but will be nationwide. They will work alongside other units of the Syrian army. We believe that the experience the YAT has gained in the past 11 years of fighting against terrorism will play a leading role in the new process in the fight against terrorism, ISIS, across Syria rather than only in northeast Syria,” he said.
The SDF has been the main partner of the US-led global coalition against ISIS on the ground in Syria and fought the bulk of the battle to territorially defeat the radical group. The multi-ethnic force lost thousands of fighters in the fight. It holds around 10,000 suspected ISIS fighters in prisons and nearly 30,000 individuals with alleged ties to the group in al-Hol camp.
“Syria is going through a new situation. A new Syria is being established following the collapse of the Baath regime. A new army is being established in Syria. We - as a principal force that played a significant role in protecting Syria, the war on terror, and protecting our people - will also take place in the process of the establishment of a new Syrian army,” Abdi said.
Abdi said he believes that their experience will “play a key role in the SDF’s integration into the Syrian army. This will give great power to the Syrian army and strengthen it.”
A point of disagreement between Rojava and Damascus has been how to integrate the SDF into the national army. The SDF has refused to have its forces enlisted individually and wants to join as a unit, maintaining aspects that make it unique, especially the inclusion of female forces. It is not clear how an army dominated by jihadists would tolerate this.
Clashes have continued between the SDF and armed groups over whom the central government holds limited control, despite the ongoing talks and recent ceasefire. Deadly skirmishes broke out between them earlier this week in the north, particularly around Deir Hafer and Tishreen Dam.
Damascus and the SDF have traded blame for the clashes.