There are increasing reports from Syria that the Syrian government in Damascus and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria are inching toward progress in integrating their security forces.
As of noon on Thursday, however, there was still no clear confirmation of any deal. This follows a year of talks.
SDF leader Mazloum Abdi met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in March. The meeting was in coordination with US Central Command and is part of a process that is supposed to lead to integrating the SDF into the new Syrian security forces.
There have been many hurdles since that meeting. Every month, there are rumors of progress, and then setbacks always appear.
For instance, in recent clashes between Damascus-backed armed groups near the Euphrates River and the SDF, the attacks on the SDF included a drone strike, according to the SDF.
Meanwhile, ISIS continues to threaten Syria. Two US soldiers and a translator were killed on December 13 near Palmyra. This was supposed to be a nascent cooperation between the United States and the new Syrian security forces.
The attack has now led to questions about whether this partnership will continue to grow quickly. Meanwhile, the US continues its nearly decade-long partnership with the SDF.
There are now developments between the SDF and Damascus, a social-media account named North and East Syria Communications, which follows developments in SDF-controlled areas of eastern Syria, reported Thursday. There had been rumors for days of an announcement.
“A preliminary agreement has been reached to keep three divisions affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) within the military structure of the Syrian army,” the report said, adding that “technical discussions are ongoing through specialized committees from both sides to discuss details related to roles and organizational structure, within a process expected to witness practical steps in the coming period.”
Will Syria-Kurdish integration include separate SDF divisions?
This is important. For months, there have been rumors that the integration will include several divisions of SDF fighters. The SDF has up to 80,000 trained fighters, both men and women. Some of them were trained and equipped by the US.
“This track has clear international support, pushing toward a political solution based on dialogue, as it is considered the most realistic option to ensure stability,” the report said, adding that “any tangible progress requires avoiding media escalation and hate speech, and focusing on understanding and partnership as the only path to building a sustainable solution in Syria.”
As of noon on Thursday, there had been no official statements from the SDF or the Syrian Democratic Civilians (SDC), the civilian side of the SDF. Joshua Landis – an expert on Syria who is the University of Oklahoma’s Sandra Mackey chair and director of the Center for Middle East Studies – posted about a breakthrough in Damascus-SDF talks, in which he quoted from a report by Syria in Transition, a monthly bilingual online magazine.
“SDF would continue to operate as a unified force structured into three distinct divisions,” he posted. “The first would serve as a Border Guard Division, responsible for securing Syria’s northeastern frontiers. 2. The second would be a Women’s Division, preserving the SDF’s existing female combat formations. 3. The third, a Counter-Terrorism Division, would coordinate directly with the Syrian government on operations against extremist groups... Notably, the agreement stipulates that no units from the Damascus government’s army or security services would be permitted to enter northeastern Syria, effectively preserving the SDF’s autonomous control over the region (sic).”
On Wednesday, the Syria in Transition account posted: “Syria’s [defense] minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, has formally notified the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that Damascus has accepted the terms of a previously verbal agreement approved by President Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his most recent visit to the United States in November, according to sources familiar with the correspondence.”
Meanwhile, US Central Command on Wednesday said: “US and partner forces in Syria have conducted nearly 80 operations since July to eliminate terrorist operatives, including ISIS remnants, that posed a direct threat to the United States and interests abroad (sic).”