The Kurdish-led militia that controls northeastern Syria agreed on Monday to merge with the nation’s new authorities, marking a significant breakthrough for Damascus in its efforts to unify a rustic nonetheless wrestling with violent turmoil.
The settlement, introduced by the workplace of Syria’s presidency and signed by each events, stipulated that the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces would combine “all civil and navy establishments” into the brand new Syrian state by the tip of the yr, together with its prized oil and fuel fields.
The deal additionally known as for the S.D.F. to assist Damascus fight remnants of the Assad regime, and outlined “the rights of all Syrians to illustration and participation within the political course of,” amid pledges by Syria’s new management to type an inclusive authorities after years of sectarian strife.
The timing of the settlement, which got here amid violent clashes in Syria’s coastal area which have left greater than 1,300 individuals lifeless, signaled a second of reprieve for Syria’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Shara.
For the reason that insurgent coalition headed by Mr. al-Shara toppled the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, the brand new authorities has sought to unify the advanced internet of insurgent teams working throughout Syria — essentially the most highly effective of them being the Kurdish-led forces within the oil-rich northeast. Nevertheless, the safety scenario has remained unstable, and the Kurdish militia has been among the many most difficult teams to convey underneath the brand new authorities’s fold.
Syria’s new authorities has ordered all armed teams within the nation to dissolve, and in current weeks, a number of distinguished militias have agreed to work with the brand new authorities, however it stays unclear whether or not all these militias have but totally built-in right into a single nationwide military underneath Mr. al-Shara’s authority.
There stays skepticism in regards to the new management’s sweeping guarantees to create an inclusive authorities. As a insurgent chief, Mr. al-Shara commanded an armed group as soon as allied with Al Qaeda, and skeptics query whether or not he has given up his former hard-line jihadist views.
For years, the Kurdish-led militia has been the primary U.S. associate within the combat in Syria in opposition to the Islamic State, and it made hard-fought territorial positive factors amid the nation’s civil conflict, to the extent that it now administers a de facto state in Syria’s northeast.
The group has lengthy sought to place itself because the protectors of Syrian Kurds, who make up about 10 p.c of the nation’s inhabitants. It additionally supplies safety at detention camps housing hundreds of Islamic State members and their households.
However amid mounting uncertainty over Washington’s position within the area, consultants mentioned Kurdish-led forces doubtless acknowledged their negotiating place was eroding. American help for the Kurdish militia has been essential to its funds, however President Trump has not but dedicated to persevering with to help the group on which the U.S. spent about $186 million in 2024.
Regardless of the breakthrough on Monday, there have been some questions that have been left unanswered.
For one, it remained unclear whether or not the S.D.F. can be allowed to function as a definite navy bloc inside Syria’s armed forces, a sticking level in current negotiations that the federal government has beforehand rejected. It was additionally unclear how precisely the decision for “a cease-fire on all Syrian territories” can be carried out as stipulated within the settlement.
Even on Monday, preventing continued to rage within the northeast between Kurdish-led forces and armed teams backed by Turkey, a detailed ally and backer of the brand new authorities in Damascus.
Turkey has lengthy seen the S.D.F. as an extension of Kurdish separatist insurgents inside Turkey who’ve fought the Turkish state for 4 a long time, however who lately introduced that they’d quit that combat. Amid dramatic adjustments in Syria’s political panorama, many Kurds have grown unnerved on the prospect of ending up worse off underneath a authorities supported by their longtime foe, Turkey.
However as quickly as information of the settlement broke, individuals in northeast Syria gathered within the streets, capturing into the air in celebration. Particularly relieved — and excited in regards to the deal — have been Arabs within the Kurdish-led area who’ve frightened for months that their space would possibly come underneath assault not solely from Turkey and its proxies, but in addition from the central authorities.
“I’m very glad due to the settlement between Damascus and the S.D.F., however we wish to ensure Damascus ensures our rights,” mentioned Faisal Ahmed, 40, an Arab who sat ingesting tea within the northeastern metropolis of Qamishli.
Like many who reside in northeast Syria and have been glad in regards to the information, he mentioned the dearth of readability in regards to the specifics left him unsure about who would maintain the realm protected from assaults by Turkey.
“If Damascus is critical about turning into mates, then they need to cease the Turkish teams from attacking us,” he mentioned.
Naleen Mohammed, 35, a Kurd, mentioned she welcomed the announcement, significantly now that unrest was enveloping Syria’s coastal area, the heartland of the nation’s Alawites, one other minority group. Alawites performed a number one position within the Assad regime and have feared retribution because it fell.
“It is rather good to have an settlement with Damascus — significantly better than preventing with them,” she mentioned. “We are able to see what is occurring in Latakia with the Alawites, they’re killing individuals and we don’t need that to occur in our space.”
Alissa J. Rubin contributed reporting.