The Syrian Defense Minister rejects SDF offer to Join the unified Syrian Army
The Minister of Defense in the new Syrian administration, Marhaf Abu Qasra, announced that the US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) cannot maintain a special bloc within the Syrian armed forces.
Abu Qasra indicated that the leadership of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) is procrastinating in deciding its position on this issue, which complicates any attempts to find a formula for integration or settlement, stressing the Syrian army’s position on incorporating the forces as individuals, not as a bloc as the SDF had proposed.
Abu Qasra’s statements come at a time when Damascus, with the support of its allies, is seeking to regain control over all of the country’s territory, including areas controlled by the SDF, which enjoys direct protection and support from the United States.
This resource-rich region is a major point of tension between local and regional parties.
Over the past years, the relationship between the Syrian government and the SDF has witnessed sharp fluctuations, as Damascus has tried to attract Kurdish fighters and integrate them into its army, while the SDF has demanded political and administrative guarantees to maintain a degree of autonomy.
However, Abu Qasra’s statements indicate that the new Syrian administration is moving towards a more hardline stance, rejecting the idea of granting the Kurds any special status within the Syrian army, which could open the door to a new escalation.
The SDF hasn’t yet officially commented on the Syrian Defense Minister’s statements, but observers believe that these statements may mean escalating pressure on the Kurds to accept Damascus’ conditions, or a possible military confrontation in light of the US presence in the region.
On the other hand, the US role remains a decisive factor in determining the outcome of the scene in northeastern Syria, where Washington supports the SDF forces under the umbrella of the International Coalition to Fight ISIS, which places more complications for Damascus, awaiting Trump’s decision.
The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) face a complex geopolitical dilemma, finding themselves between the hammer of Turkish threats and the anvil of US pressure.
While Ankara considers them an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist organization, and continues to launch military operations against them in northern Syria, Washington relies on them as a key ally in the fight against ISIS, providing them with military and logistical support.
Despite this support, the United States is trying to strike a delicate balance between continuing to support the SDF and containing Turkish anger, especially with the increasing pressure from Ankara to dismantle the armed Kurdish entity on its borders.
In contrast, Damascus is trying to exploit this tension to re-impose its influence in the region through negotiations or even through military pressure, which puts the SDF in a very complicated position between the conflicting parties.
