The Kurdish-led militia that controls northeastern Syria agreed on Monday to merge with the nation’s new authorities, marking a serious breakthrough for Damascus in its efforts to unify a rustic nonetheless wrestling with violent turmoil.
The settlement, introduced by the workplace of Syria’s presidency and signed by each events, stipulated that the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces would combine “all civil and navy establishments” into the brand new Syrian state by the top of the 12 months, together with its prized oil and fuel fields.
The deal additionally known as for the S.D.F. to assist Damascus fight remnants of the Assad regime, and outlined “the rights of all Syrians to illustration and participation within the political course of,” amid pledges by Syria’s new management to kind an inclusive authorities after years of sectarian strife.
The timing of the settlement, which got here amid violent clashes in Syria’s coastal area which have left greater than 1,300 folks useless, signaled a second of reprieve for Syria’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Shara.
For the reason that insurgent coalition headed by Mr. al-Shara toppled the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, the brand new authorities has sought to unify the advanced net of insurgent teams working throughout Syria — essentially the most highly effective of them being the Kurdish-led forces within the oil-rich northeast. Nevertheless, the safety state of affairs has remained unstable, and the Kurdish militia has been among the many most difficult teams to convey beneath the brand new authorities’s fold.
Syria’s new authorities has ordered all armed teams within the nation to dissolve, and in latest weeks, a number of outstanding militias have agreed to work with the brand new authorities, but it surely stays unclear whether or not all these militias have but absolutely built-in right into a single nationwide military beneath Mr. al-Shara’s authority.
There stays skepticism concerning the new management’s sweeping guarantees to create an inclusive authorities. As a insurgent chief, Mr. al-Shara commanded an armed group as soon as allied with Al Qaeda, and skeptics query whether or not he has given up his former hard-line jihadist views.
For years, the Kurdish-led militia has been the primary U.S. associate within the combat in Syria towards the Islamic State, and it made hard-fought territorial beneficial properties amid the nation’s civil conflict, to the extent that it now administers a de facto state in Syria’s northeast.
The group has lengthy sought to place itself because the protectors of Syrian Kurds, who make up about 10 % of the nation’s inhabitants. It additionally supplies safety at detention camps housing 1000’s of Islamic State members and their households.
However amid mounting uncertainty over Washington’s function within the area, specialists stated Kurdish-led forces seemingly acknowledged their negotiating place was eroding. American help for the Kurdish militia has been essential to its funds, however President Trump has not but dedicated to persevering with to help the group on which the U.S. spent about $186 million in 2024.
Regardless of the breakthrough on Monday, there have been some questions that had been left unanswered.
For one, it remained unclear whether or not the S.D.F. could be allowed to function as a definite navy bloc inside Syria’s armed forces, a sticking level in latest negotiations that the federal government has beforehand rejected. It was additionally unclear how precisely the decision for “a cease-fire on all Syrian territories” could be carried out as stipulated within the settlement.
Even on Monday, preventing continued to rage within the northeast between Kurdish-led forces and armed teams backed by Turkey, a detailed ally and backer of the brand new authorities in Damascus.
Turkey has lengthy considered the S.D.F. as an extension of Kurdish separatist insurgents inside Turkey who’ve fought the Turkish state for 4 many years, however who just lately introduced that they might surrender that combat. Amid dramatic modifications in Syria’s political panorama, many Kurds have grown unnerved on the prospect of ending up worse off beneath a authorities supported by their longtime foe, Turkey.
However as quickly as information of the settlement broke, folks in northeast Syria gathered within the streets, taking pictures into the air in celebration. Particularly relieved — and excited concerning the deal — had been Arabs within the Kurdish-led area who’ve anxious for months that their space would possibly come beneath assault not solely from Turkey and its proxies, but additionally from the central authorities.
“I’m very completely happy due to the settlement between Damascus and the S.D.F., however we need to ensure Damascus ensures our rights,” stated Faisal Ahmed, 40, an Arab who sat consuming tea within the northeastern metropolis of Qamishli.
Like many who stay in northeast Syria and had been completely happy concerning the information, he stated the shortage of readability concerning the specifics left him unsure about who would preserve the realm protected from assaults by Turkey.
“If Damascus is critical about turning into associates, then they need to cease the Turkish teams from attacking us,” he stated.
Naleen Mohammed, 35, a Kurd, stated she welcomed the announcement, notably now that unrest was enveloping Syria’s coastal area, the heartland of the nation’s Alawites, one other minority group. Alawites performed a number one function within the Assad regime and have feared retribution because it fell.
“It is extremely good to have an settlement with Damascus — significantly better than preventing with them,” she stated. “We will see what is occurring in Latakia with the Alawites, they’re killing folks and we don’t need that to occur in our space.”
Alissa J. Rubin contributed reporting.
