Raqqa, Syria – The commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, announced on Friday that his forces have reached an agreement with the new Syrian administration to exclude any military solution to the country’s crisis.
Speaking at a meeting in Raqqa, northern Syria, Abdi emphasized that resolving the Syrian crisis is only possible through dialogue between all components of Syrian society and political actors in the country. The meeting was attended by military officials from the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, tribal leaders, politicians, and activists from northern and eastern Syria.
Abdi expressed the readiness of northern and eastern Syria to integrate the institutions of the Autonomous Administration into the structure of the Syrian state. However, he stressed that such a move must be based on consensus and initiated through dialogue with the transitional administration.
The SDF commander also revealed plans to form a delegation representing the people of the region—comprising all ethnic and social groups—to engage in talks with the new Syrian administration regarding the future of the region and the structure of the emerging state.
Read Also: Öcalan’s Ceasefire Call: Implications for Turkey, Syria, and the Region
Abdi dismissed reports suggesting the presence of loyalists to the former regime in northern and eastern Syria, denying claims circulated by certain media outlets.
In February, Abdi had stated that Turkish intervention was obstructing negotiations with Syria’s transitional administration. He reiterated that a successful national dialogue must proceed without preconditions, as called for by the new Syrian leadership.
Additionally, he noted that the SDF and the transitional administration have agreed to establish two committees to coordinate military and civilian affairs, as previously reported by The Guardian.
Abdi concluded by reaffirming that both the SDF and the transitional administration share a common stance: northern and eastern Syria remain an integral part of a unified Syrian territory.
