Syria continues to work toward cementing the January 30 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led army that was backed for a decade by the US.
After clashes in January, the SDF and Syrian government agreed to cooperate and find a way to enable Syrian forces to deploy to SDF-held areas in eastern Syria.
According to Syrian state media, a “delegation from the Syrian Defense Ministry, headed by the Chief of Operations of the Syrian Arab Army, Brig.-Gen. Hamza al-Hamidi, held a meeting on Friday with representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the city of Hasakah.”
This is important because it once again shows the symbolic transfer of power and also the fact that the SDF is willing to work under the Defense Ministry. It also enables the important meetings and photo opportunities that show that peace can continue.
Syrian Defense Ministry focused on integrating SDF personnel
According to reports from the meetings in eastern Syria, the Defense Ministry is now focused on how to integrate SDF personnel within the ministry.
This was a key part of the March 2025 agreement between SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Phased integration is expected to happen, as Syrian Interior Ministry forces have deployed to Hasakah and Qamishli in eastern Syria. There is also a handover of the administration of government facilities.
The goal of Hamidi’s visit is to discuss the consolidation of units and the new deployment.
“Earlier in the day, the Defense Ministry delegation held a meeting in Hasakah city with SDF representatives to discuss procedures for integrating personnel into the military institution and implementing the remaining provisions of the agreement,” Syria’s state media SANA said. Syrian sources said the meetings were positive.
“The Operations Command of the Syrian Arab Army said, in a statement on Friday, the purpose of the meeting and the field tour was to initiate the practical implementation of the agreement concluded between the Syrian state and the SDF. Specific timelines were agreed upon to begin executing the terms of the agreement in the coming days.”
SANA added that “the Operations Command noted that the agreement includes withdrawal from civilian areas to designated military positions, reopening roads, cooperation in demining and removing barricades, and accelerating the process of integration.”
The meetings in eastern Syria come as the US continues to move ISIS detainees to Iraq, and also as reports indicate the US has withdrawn from a base near Shaddadi in Syria.
In addition, it comes amid warnings in Iraq that ISIS threats may be increasing in Anbar province and Nineveh, two areas near the Syrian border.
Syrian SDF leader Sipan Hemo was seen at the meetings with the Syrian army, saluting the development. Hemo is an important SDF commander, and his amicable meetings with the Damascus-backed forces show how things are changing.
The video also showed the Syrian Defense Ministry vehicles deploying to eastern Syria, with many of them standardized light armored vehicles, showing how the Defense Ministry is professionalizing its forces and expanding them.