Ten years ago, the Syrian Democratic Forces were established. They have become one of the most prominent actors on the Syrian scene as an influential military and political body that brought together a coalition of diverse Kurdish, Arab, Syriac and Turkmen factions. These forces received direct support from the international coalition to fight ISIS and succeeded in defeating the organization in northeastern Syria after years of confrontation.
Following the fall of the deposed regime and the assumption of authority by Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, the relationship between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the transitional administration has been marked by fluctuation and complexity. It has ranged from tension to negotiations to attempts at limited coordination, given the divergent interests and visions regarding the future of the Syrian state and its governance. This has taken place amid continuous efforts to lay the foundations for political, administrative and military understanding in the post-Assad phase. The most significant outcome of these efforts was the signing of the March 10 agreement, which has become a pivotal milestone in the path of cooperation and understanding between both sides on military and administrative issues within the scenarios of rebuilding the state on new foundations that respect pluralism and shared national interests.
The file of northeastern Syria was a priority in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian interim government, issued after the Trump–al-Sharaa meeting in Washington. The ministry stressed the integration process within the structure of the Syrian army, while the United States Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said in a post on X yesterday, Thursday, that it is necessary to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces into the new economic, defense and civil structure of Syria.
In an exclusive interview with +963, Commander of the “Democratic Northern Brigade” of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Absi al-Taha, known as Abu Omar al-Idlibi, discussed the steps related to the integration process within the Ministry of Defense, the role of the United States in this context, the SDF’s position on the Syrian government joining the international coalition against ISIS, and their relations with Syria’s neighboring states, in addition to providing answers to several other questions on various topics.
Below is the full interview:
Where is the process of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the structure of the Ministry of Defense heading, and what practical steps have you implemented so far?
We are working toward effective integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the coming period. It is essential that this integration be founded on the principle of participation and complementarity within the Syrian army. This is one of the most important aspects of the process. All of this must take place through defining suitable organizational frameworks that can achieve integration. If properly implemented, the process will certainly have a largely positive impact on achieving stability in Syria and ensuring the meaningful participation of all Syrians.
Is there anything threatening the success of the March 10 agreement, or are matters proceeding in the right direction?
Despite the challenges and difficulties we face, we remain fully committed to implementing the March 10 agreement signed between the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, General Mazloum Abdi, and President Ahmad al-Sharaa. We continue to work tirelessly to strengthen trust and cooperation among all parties concerned with the agreement. Over the past months, there has been intensive effort and high-level coordination between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government to resolve any sudden disputes that may arise. We look forward to achieving tangible convergence and positive results in the negotiations in the coming weeks in particular.
How do you view the role of the United States in the process of reaching an understanding between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the government? Is there also a British or French role, and what does it look like?
We in the Syrian Democratic Forces consider the role of the United States to be extremely important in supporting the process of understanding between us and the government. Washington has contributed and continues to provide assistance and technical advice regarding the bilateral agreement with Damascus. All of this has helped overcome difficulties and obstacles that may appear in the process of reaching an understanding, which is highly significant. Some European countries, particularly France, also play an active role, mainly through political and humanitarian support that strengthens the prospects for successful integration with the government.
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How is your relationship with Syria’s neighboring states, namely Turkey, Iraq and Jordan?
We consistently seek, within a defined strategy and vision, to build relations based on mutual respect with Syria’s neighboring states. Our relations with Jordan and Iraq are very good. As for Turkey, the relationship can be described as complex due to ongoing political disputes. Nevertheless, we always believe in the importance of dialogue to resolve outstanding issues with any party, away from escalation in all its forms.
How do you assess Turkey’s role in Syria, particularly with Ankara’s escalating statements against the SDF in recent months?
We believe that Turkey’s increasingly escalatory statements in recent months serve no purpose other than widening the divide and exacerbating tensions in the region. For years, and even now, we have worked tirelessly to reduce tensions through all possible means. We have repeatedly emphasized the importance of dialogue and its effective role in resolving all tensions and outstanding issues with Ankara, while continually striving to avoid any escalation that could harm the security and stability of the region.
How do you view the Syrian government’s accession to the international coalition against ISIS? Will there be joint operations across Syrian territory?
We in the Syrian Democratic Forces welcome the Syrian government’s accession to the international coalition against ISIS. Combating the organization requires intensive and joint efforts from all parties. We hope this step will open wide opportunities for coordination between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the government in future joint operations against terrorist groups across Syria. We also hope that the accession will play an important and supportive role in facilitating integration within the structure of the Syrian army and ensuring security and stability throughout the Syrian geographic landscape.
What are the most prominent challenges you are currently facing?
The most prominent challenges we face are political tensions caused by some parties, especially Turkey. We hope Turkey will approach the Syrian file constructively during this sensitive phase in the country’s future. In addition, there are ongoing security threats from terrorist and extremist groups such as ISIS, as seen during the past period through the noticeable increase in ISIS operations in northeastern Syria, despite repeated security operations carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces and Internal Security Forces (Asayish). Moreover, the humanitarian and economic conditions faced by many Syrians require urgent and immediate solutions to ensure long-term stability.
