Hasaka, northeast Syria – A senior official in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday denied claims that the group had been given a deadline to integrate into the Syrian government, contradicting a report published earlier by Middle East Eye.
Speaking exclusively to +963, the source said:
“We categorically deny the claims in the report. Any steps toward integration would only happen within a clear political framework, through the formation of a unified military bloc within the Syrian army, not through the random assimilation of individuals.”
The source emphasized that the integration process is not bound by a specific timetable and depends entirely on ongoing dialogue and negotiations between SDF and Damascus.
The official also described the recent meeting between SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack as “positive,” noting that further talks with representatives of the Syrian government are expected in the near future.
Earlier in the day, Middle East Eye reported that the United States and Turkey had jointly given the SDF a 30-day deadline to finalize integration with the Syrian government. According to unnamed sources cited in the report, the warning was issued during a trilateral meeting involving American and Turkish officials alongside SDF representatives held in northeast Syria last week.
Read also: U.S. Envoy: Syrian Government Must Be Held Accountable for Suwayda Violence
The outlet also claimed that some SDF units would be excluded from any integration into the Syrian army and would be disarmed instead, with final authority reverting to Damascus. According to the report, Damascus has refused to integrate the SDF’s all-female Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) due to their ideological links with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party).
A U.S. State Department official confirmed to Middle East Eye that negotiations between SDF and the Syrian government remain ongoing and reiterated Washington’s support for continued engagement as the most viable path toward resolving key disputes.
