Talks on Integrating Kurdish-Led Forces Into Syrian Army End Without Progress

Talks on Integrating Kurdish-Led Forces Into Syrian Army End Without Progress
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Syrian government officials have held talks with the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on plans to integrate the group into the national army, but the discussions failed to yield concrete results, state media reported, as reported by Al Jazeera. The meeting took place in Damascus and focused on the broader framework for incorporating the US-backed force into Syria’s military institutions.

The SDF said its delegation, led by commander Mazloum Abdi, discussed technical and political aspects of the integration process with government representatives. One of the main unresolved issues is whether the SDF would remain intact as a single formation within the army or be dismantled, with its fighters absorbed individually into existing units.

In March, Damascus and the SDF reached an agreement that set a target date of the end of 2025 for the merger. The deal also envisaged transferring control of border crossings with Iraq and Turkiye, airports, oil installations, and detention facilities holding suspected ISIL members to the central government.

Regional dynamics continue to complicate the process. Turkiye considers the SDF a security threat due to its links to the PKK and opposes its integration as a unified force. Meanwhile, disagreements over decentralisation have fuelled tensions, occasionally erupting into clashes between government forces and SDF fighters.