Syria Rejects Kurdish Military Bloc Proposal, Targets March 1 Integration

Jan 19, 2025, 11:18 AM

The Syrian Defense Minister, Major General Marhaf Abu Qasra, has rejected a proposal by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to maintain a separate military bloc within the Syrian Armed Forces. The SDF, which is backed by the United States and has controlled semi-autonomous regions in northeastern Syria, proposed joining the Syrian military as a distinct unit. Abu Qasra emphasized that all military factions, including the SDF, must be fully integrated into the broader structure of the Syrian Armed Forces. The minister criticized SDF leader Mazloum Abdi for delaying negotiations on the matter, stating, "The SDF wants to be a special unit within the army, we rejected this." The integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian military is part of broader efforts by Syria's transitional government to unify its armed forces, with a target deadline of March 1, 2025. The SDF has expressed willingness to negotiate but has refused to disarm or dissolve its ranks, proposing instead the formation of a joint military committee to address the issue. The Syrian government has held extensive meetings with various military factions to establish a unified defense structure. Additionally, over 9,000 ISIS prisoners remain in SDF-controlled facilities, highlighting the complexity of the region's security dynamics.