Understanding in Damascus: 'Syrian Democratic Forces' to Integrate into Government

The Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the Kurds and controlling many eastern regions of the country, have agreed to integrate into Syrian government institutions by signing a memorandum of understanding with the interim President of Syria. This memorandum was signed in Damascus between Ahmad al-Shara, the interim President of Syria, and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, and under its terms, both civilians and military personnel of these forces will come under government control. According to Reuters, the signed agreement on Monday, March 20, will transfer areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, including crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields, to the government by the end of this year. The French news agency also reported that Mazloum Abdi emphasized in a post on the social media platform X that the signed memorandum with the government in Damascus is a 'real opportunity to build a new Syria.' The Syrian Democratic Forces is a military coalition centered around the Kurds, supported by the United States, and administers northern and eastern Syria. This group was established in 2015 with the aim of 'fighting for the establishment of a secular, democratic, and federal Syria.' The Syrian Democratic Forces have been the main ally of the United States in the war against the terrorist group ISIS in Syria. Turkey considers the 'People's Protection Units,' the main group forming the Syrian Democratic Forces, to be the Syrian branch of the 'Kurdistan Workers' Party' (PKK). However, the United States and the European Union regard these two groups as distinct from each other.