Syrian Defense Minister: Kurds Should Be Integrated into Armed Forces

Merhaf Abou Qasra, the newly appointed Syrian Defense Minister, emphasized the need for the armed Kurdish forces stationed in northeastern Syria to be integrated into the armed forces controlled by the central government. According to Reuters, Merhaf Abou Qasra criticized the leadership of the Kurdish forces known as the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' for their delay in implementing this process. The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the U.S., have managed to establish a semi-autonomous region in Syria during the 14 years of civil war. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the formation of a new authority in Damascus, the Syrian Democratic Forces began consultations with the new government. Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, recently stated in an interview with the Saudi news channel 'Al-Sharq' that his forces are willing to integrate into the central government's armed forces as 'one military unit', provided that there is no disintegration. Merhaf Abou Qasra rejected this proposal, stating that the Syrian Democratic Forces must be distributed and integrated into the armed forces of the country. The integration of armed groups opposing Bashar al-Assad and the formation of a unified structure is considered a priority for the new Syrian government's Ministry of Defense. Merhaf Abou Qasra expressed hope that he could complete the integration of the armed forces and appoint senior military officials by the beginning of March (11 Esfand), coinciding with the end of the Syrian transitional government. The nature and operations of the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria, neighboring Turkey, are a point of contention between the U.S. and Turkey. While the Syrian Democratic Forces are considered a key ally in the U.S. fight against Islamic State militants (ISIS), Turkey views this group as a threat to its national security. Currently, over 9,000 ISIS prisoners are held in more than a dozen detention centers under the supervision of the Syrian Democratic Forces. General Michael Eric Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), described these facilities during his recent visit to Syria as housing 'a potential army of ISIS in detention' and emphasized the need for global cooperation to transfer these prisoners to their home countries. The CENTCOM commander's visit to Syria aimed to assess recent developments in the country.