The Syrian government reached a final agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that facilitates the systematic integration of Kurdish forces and administrative bodies into the state apparatus, according to reports Friday. This development follows intense fighting wherein Syrian troops regained large areas in the north-east previously held by the SDF for over a decade.
Central to the accord is the integration of SDF personnel into the Syrian Army, alongside the absorption of its civil institutions into Damascus’s governance structure, as detailed in statements released by the SDF. Furthermore, the agreement establishes a new military division comprising three brigades drawn from former SDF ranks, formalizing the military absorption process.
Reports indicate the deal also addresses specific rights for the Kurdish population, including guarantees for the return of displaced persons and recognition of civil and educational rights. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who vowed reunification after the end of the 13-year civil war in late 2024, previously issued a decree recognizing Kurdish cultural rights, including making Kurdish a national language.
Key strategic assets previously under SDF control have been transferred to state authority as part of the arrangement. Syrian troops secured the Omar facility, the nation's largest oilfield, and the strategic Tabqa dam on the Euphrates River following the SDF withdrawal from those positions.
This consolidation of authority marks the most significant territorial realignment in Syria since the conclusion of the civil conflict, effectively reducing the Kurdish autonomous zone that once controlled nearly one-third of the country following the defeat of the Islamic State group. The SDF had previously controlled these areas with US backing.
Negotiations leading to Friday's finalized accord followed months of stalled talks concerning a March 2025 integration framework, which both sides had accused the other of attempting to sabotage. The formalization of this deal underscores President al-Sharaa's commitment to ending Syria's division and pursuing national unity.
US envoy Tom Barrack commented on the situation, describing the agreement as a "profound and historic milestone in Syria's journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability." This assessment highlights the international significance of internal Syrian political and military restructuring.
