Syrian Kurdish Leader Vows ‘All Efforts’ to Salvage Deal with Damascus

SDF chief says talks continue on military integration amid recent clashes, as Turkey pressures for Kurdish force’s incorporation.

DAMASCUS — The commander of Syria’s Kurdish-led forces said Thursday that “all efforts” were underway to prevent the collapse of a landmark deal to integrate his administration into the Syrian government, despite recent deadly clashes and unresolved disputes.

Mazloum Abdi, head of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stated his commitment to the March agreement with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which aims to merge the Kurdish semi-autonomous region with Damascus by year’s end. The announcement follows a ceasefire after fighting erupted in Aleppo earlier this week.

In a public statement, Abdi downplayed the deadline, noting the agreement “did not specify a time limit,” and expressed confidence that the process would not fail. He said both sides were working toward a “mutual understanding” on key issues, including military integration and counter-terrorism cooperation.

A major point of contention remains the SDF’s demand for decentralization, which has been rejected by Syria’s Islamist authorities, who took power after ousting Bashar Assad last year.

The talks are being closely watched by Turkey, a key ally of Damascus, which views the Kurdish forces along its border as a security threat. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently warned that patience with the SDF “is running out” and stressed the urgency of integration during a visit to Damascus this week.

The SDF controls much of northeastern Syria, an oil-rich region, and was a principal U.S.-backed force in the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019. Syria recently joined the anti-ISIS coalition and has announced joint operations against the jihadist group.