After months of stagnation.. The leader of "SDF" announces a "preliminary agreement" with Damascus to integrate his forces into the Syrian army

The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, revealed that a "preliminary agreement" has been reached with the Syrian government that outlines the mechanism for integrating his forces into the Syrian army as a cohesive unit, in a development seen as a potential breakthrough after months of stalled negotiations.

This came in exclusive statements made by Abdi to the "Associated Press" on Thursday, where he highlighted the details of the future path for the US-backed forces, confirming that the integration will not happen individually.

Abdi explained that one of the main points of contention previously revolved around whether the SDF would remain a cohesive unit within the new army or be dismantled. He clarified this by stating: "Large forces like the SDF cannot be integrated into the Syrian army individually like other smaller factions, but will join as large military formations organized according to the Ministry of Defense's regulations."

According to the leader, both sides agreed on the implementation mechanism, and a joint committee was formed with the Syrian Ministry of Defense to determine the "appropriate mechanisms" for the integration process. Abdi also anticipated that the members and leaders who join would gain benefits, saying: "We expect that members and leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces who will join the army will receive good positions in the Ministry of Defense and the army leadership."

The agreement was not limited to the military aspect only, as Abdi revealed that "the police forces in northeastern Syria will also be integrated with the security forces of the Syrian government," as part of a comprehensive path to unify military and security institutions.

Abdi pointed out that this agreement was reached during a recent meeting he had with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense in the capital, Damascus.

He also commented on the reasons for the delay that affected the implementation of the agreement from last March, indicating that "the events on the Syrian coast and in Sweida were among the reasons that contributed to the delay in implementation." At the same time, he expressed optimism about the future: "Nevertheless, we believe that if progress is made in the March agreement and all its provisions are practically implemented, we will be able to prevent the recurrence of such events."

It is noteworthy that this announcement represents an important step towards ending the military duality in northern and eastern Syria and unifying ranks in the face of security challenges.