Syria's Kurdish-led Forces Settle Integration with Government Amid Fears of Losses and Frustration
In a surprise move, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurdish forces, have agreed to integrate their military units into the government army. This development comes after weeks of fierce fighting between the two sides as the government sought to consolidate control over Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The agreement is seen as a major turning point, with the SDF withdrawing from the front lines and government forces deploying to key cities like Hasakah and Qamishli. Local security forces are also set to be merged, while a new military division will be formed including three SDF brigades.
The integration of Kurdish civil institutions into state structures is also expected, marking a significant shift in the country's governance structure. The deal follows months of talks between government officials and Kurdish leaders, who had been frustrated by their failure to secure inclusion into central institutions despite the initial agreement in March 2025.
The rapid pace of events has helped consolidate leadership under Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose government has faced criticism for its handling of the integration process. The deal is seen as a key step towards national reconciliation and unity, with the SDF's leader now seeming to have shed his links to former extremist group ISIS.
The agreement has been welcomed by US envoy Tom Barrack, who described it as a "historic milestone" reflecting a shared commitment to inclusion and mutual respect among all Syrian communities. The United States' shift in support towards al-Sharaa has also been acknowledged, with President Donald Trump expressing happiness over the developments.
As Syria's future takes shape under new leadership, concerns remain about the fate of Kurdish forces once more.
In a surprise move, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurdish forces, have agreed to integrate their military units into the government army. This development comes after weeks of fierce fighting between the two sides as the government sought to consolidate control over Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The agreement is seen as a major turning point, with the SDF withdrawing from the front lines and government forces deploying to key cities like Hasakah and Qamishli. Local security forces are also set to be merged, while a new military division will be formed including three SDF brigades.
The integration of Kurdish civil institutions into state structures is also expected, marking a significant shift in the country's governance structure. The deal follows months of talks between government officials and Kurdish leaders, who had been frustrated by their failure to secure inclusion into central institutions despite the initial agreement in March 2025.
The rapid pace of events has helped consolidate leadership under Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose government has faced criticism for its handling of the integration process. The deal is seen as a key step towards national reconciliation and unity, with the SDF's leader now seeming to have shed his links to former extremist group ISIS.
The agreement has been welcomed by US envoy Tom Barrack, who described it as a "historic milestone" reflecting a shared commitment to inclusion and mutual respect among all Syrian communities. The United States' shift in support towards al-Sharaa has also been acknowledged, with President Donald Trump expressing happiness over the developments.
As Syria's future takes shape under new leadership, concerns remain about the fate of Kurdish forces once more.
this is a big deal for syria and i'm kinda curious how it all went down. did the kurdish forces feel like they had no other choice or was it just a strategic move to end the fighting? and what about the people of hasakah and qamishli, do they think it's a good thing that the government is taking control? 
. i mean, the sdf has been fighting for their rights for years and now they're finally getting some recognition 
. the fact that they're integrating with the government army is a big deal and it shows that there are still people on both sides who want to work together 
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. it's been a long and difficult road but maybe this is the start of something beautiful 
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it's like a major shift in power. i mean, its good dat dey r settlin down and not causin more trouble but ur also worried bout wat happens next 
and btw, i cant help but think bout ISIS... like wht happnd to dem? are dey stil a thing? 
What do you guys think? Can we really believe that national reconciliation is within reach now?
, sounds like it could be a major step forward for the country, and a breath of fresh air after all these years of fighting... fingers crossed that it leads to stability and unity, not just another power struggle 
. gotta wonder what the future holds for those kurdish forces now, gonna have to keep an eye on them 
. and hey, if this deal is really about inclusion and mutual respect, that's something to be really optimistic about 
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. And it's interesting to see how Tom Barrack is framing this as a "historic milestone" - I guess you could say that.
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. And let's be real, it's not just about the politics - it's also about the people on the ground, like the folks in Hasakah and Qamishli. They deserve some peace and stability after all they've been through 
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I mean, I know there are still some concerns about what this means for Kurdish forces in the long run 
. now that theres talk of integration into government army & civil institutions, idk wut the future holds 4 Kurdish ppl 
. what's in it for them? it's all just a bunch of empty promises at this point...
Will they still have a say in their own governance? It feels like we're just setting them up for another crisis 
. I guess only time will tell if this is really a step towards national reconciliation and unity, or just another power grab 
. what's in it for the kurdish forces to agree to this deal? are they just gonna be absorbed into the gov't army without any autonomy?