Syria’s interim government has signed a transformative deal with the Kurdish-led SDF, integrating their forces into the Syrian army and granting constitutional rights to Kurds. This agreement aims to unify control, with all border crossings, airports, and oilfields in the northeast reverting to government oversight by year-end, while also facilitating the return of displaced Kurds.
On Monday, Syria’s interim government successfully signed a significant agreement with the Kurdish-led authority governing the northeast of the country. This agreement includes a ceasefire and the integration of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army. This development represents a critical breakthrough for the Syrian government, which is led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, responsible for ousting President Bashar al-Assad in December.
The deal, which interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi executed, will be fully implemented by the end of the year. This integration is expected to ensure that all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, as well as airports and oilfields in the northeastern region, fall under the control of the central government. Furthermore, prisons housing approximately 9,000 alleged Islamic State (ISIS) members are also slated to come under government jurisdiction.
Significantly, the agreement recognizes the rights of Syria’s Kurdish population, allowing them to utilize and teach their language—practices that had been prohibited during Assad’s regime. The deal also aims to facilitate the return of hundreds of thousands of Kurds, who had been displaced during the protracted civil war spanning nearly 14 years.
The signing of this agreement marks a pivotal moment in Syrian governance, as it seeks to unify control across the country by integrating Kurdish forces into the state apparatus. Additionally, the provisions ensuring Kurdish linguistic rights and the planned return of displaced individuals signify a progressive shift towards inclusivity in a historically complicated landscape. As the deal progresses towards implementation, it could reshape the dynamics of governance and regional stability in Syria.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
