Syria is putting out mixed messaging about how to proceed with integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian government’s new security forces.
Damascus does not seem to have a clear message or vision on how to proceed. This is made even more complex by the fact that SDF officials also appear to be unclear on what comes next.
Central to this issue is how to incorporate around 100,000 SDF members into the new transitional army. Reports say that several divisions' worth of SDF fighters could be transformed into military units.
But can they come under the new army as fully organized divisions while maintaining their cohesive nature?
What about the rest of eastern Syria, which the DAANES, the civilian component of the SDF, runs?
Rudaw media in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq reported on Sunday that “Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Saturday repeated Damascus’ rejection of ‘any form of division or federalism,’ but said that northeast Syria (Rojava) has ‘a historic opportunity’ to help build the country’s future.”
“We reject any form of division and federalism, and this does not require discussion or negotiation,” Shaibani said in an interview with state-run Al Ekhbariya TV.
Ekhbariya said that according to one source, “The two sides had reached ‘an understanding about the principle of decentralization’ last week.”
Further, the report said that “Najeeb Ghadban, an adviser to Shaibani, told Rudaw earlier this month that Rojava ‘is pushing for decentralization to be applied across all of Syria,’ adding that ‘there is openness to that idea.’”
The Syrian foreign minister is clear that it is pivotal to move forward. “Shaibani said that integrating the SDF into Syria’s institutions is crucial to restoring unity. The Kurdish-led force controls about a third of Syrian territory.”
'We believe a partnership must happen as soon as possible'
Syria’s top diplomat added that “we succeeded in convincing countries interested in the SDF file that its only solution is the March 10 agreement… the absence of SDF forces within state institutions deepens the rift between them and the Syrian state, so we believe partnership must happen as soon as possible.”
This follows several interviews that SDF Cmdr. Mazloum Abdi conducted a meeting last week with the AFP and AP in which he discussed integration.
Several SDF officials then detailed the outline of how this was set to take place. However, SDF Cmdr. Sipan Hamo also appeared to be more cautious in his prognosis about what might take place.
Rudaw said, “Negotiations between the two sides stalled over disagreements on how to incorporate the SDF’s forces into the national army, leading to periodic clashes in northern Syria in recent weeks.”
“The deadlock appeared to ease after Abdi visited Damascus earlier in October, during which he met with [Syria’s President Ahmed] al-Sharaa,” the media source said.
Meanwhile, according to the North Press Agency in eastern Syria, “Shaibani... called on Saturday for an urgent partnership with the SDF to safeguard Syria’s unity and end the suffering of civilians.”
This report also reviewed the interview that Shaibani did with Ekhbariya and had a slightly different interpretation of what was said. While Rudaw was less optimistic, the North Press Agency appeared more optimistic.
At the end of the day, the Syrian foreign minister’s words are up for interpretation. “There is a historic chance for northeast Syria to be a key part of this phase… Failure to reach an agreement with the SDF hampers the interests of civilians and delays the return of displaced people to their homes,” he said.
Shaibani also said that the president of Syria was keen to see the SDF as an essential component of the country’s future. But Damascus does reject any form of division or federalism, a key sticking point.
By and by, the government wants to try to resolve things with the Druze in Sweida. Syrian media also continues to report on what it sees as Israeli violations of Syrian territory near Quneitra.