Reports from major international news agencies or official statements from Syrian government

Syria's New Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa Vows to Control All Weapons Under State Authority, Including PKK/YPG, Two Weeks After Assad's Ousting

Dec 24, 2024, 11:30 PM

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the newly appointed leader of Syria, has announced a commitment to placing all weapons within the country under state control. This declaration comes two weeks after the ousting of Bashar Assad's regime. Al-Sharaa emphasized that weapons held by various factions, including those from revolutionary groups and Kurdish forces, will be regulated by the state to ensure security and protection for minorities. During a press conference, he stated, "We will absolutely not allow there to be weapons in the country outside state control." In discussions with Turkey's foreign minister, he reiterated this stance, asserting that all factions' weapons will be integrated under a unified command. However, the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, represented by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have not participated in the recent agreements for integration, raising concerns about a potential security vacuum that could be exploited by jihadist groups like the Islamic State. Al-Sharaa's government has reached an agreement with other rebel groups, but the absence of the SDF could lead to ongoing divisions within Syria.