Kurdish-Led SDF Forms Alliance with Syrian Government Forces

In a landmark agreement, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have pledged to join military and civilian structures with the Syrian government. The deal, hailed by SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, promises the integration of Kurdish autonomy into national politics, and raises concerns over the resurgence of IS in the region amidst potential border conflicts with Turkey.

A Kurdish-led militia alliance controlling northeastern Syria has reached a pivotal agreement with the Syrian government to integrate both military and civilian institutions into the state apparatus, according to an announcement from the Syrian presidency. This agreement involves the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ceasing hostilities and transferring control over crucial regional infrastructure, including border posts, an airport, and vital oil and gas resources.

The deal formally recognizes the Kurdish minority as "an integral part of the Syrian state" and assures rights for all Syrians to take part in the political system. During the signing ceremony, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi characterized the agreement as a "real opportunity to build a new Syria" and expressed commitment to a future that prioritizes the rights and aspirations of all Syrians towards peace and dignity. The agreement was signed in collaboration with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and is seen as a significant step toward unifying the country, which has been deeply divided since the onset of the civil war in 2011.

Sharaa's administration is faced with the task of overcoming fragmentation after his faction led the rebel coalition that ousted president Bashar al-Assad in late 2019. Recent violence in western Syria underscores the difficulties of this endeavor, with attacks against security forces resulting in over 1,000 civilian casualties, primarily from Assad's minority Alawite sect.

Furthermore, this agreement may ease tensions between the SDF and Turkey, along with Turkish-supported Syrian rebel groups striving to expel the SDF from border territories. The SDF has tens of thousands of seasoned fighters who have remained neutral throughout the Syrian civil war and currently manage over 46,000 square kilometers of territory, having notably defeated the Islamic State group in 2019 with international backing.

The SDF operates an Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also referred to as Rojava by Kurds, where approximately 10,000 IS militants are held in SDF-managed facilities. The ongoing violence from Turkish-backed factions has raised alarms within the SDF, as the diversion of fighters from detention duties raises fears of a resurgence of IS influence.

Turkey perceives the SDF’s predominant component, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist faction on account of its association with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has historically waged an insurgent campaign in Turkey. As of now, there has been no comment from Turkey regarding the recent agreement. The Kurdish population, estimated between 25 and 35 million, is the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East, yet remains without a permanent nation-state, with Syrian Kurds constituting roughly 10% of the nation’s populace. Their rights were heavily suppressed under the Assad regime, contributing to the contentious dynamics of the current agreement.