Kurdish-led SDF reaches deal with Damascus to join Syria’s state institutions

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with Syria’s interim government on Monday to integrate its civilian and military institutions into the state, marking a significant shift in the country’s post-war landscape.

Photos released by the Syrian presidency showed interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi shaking hands in Damascus, finalizing a deal that brings SDF-controlled areas in northeast Syria under government administration.

The agreement allows for the transfer of border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields into Damascus' control by the end of the year. However, it does not clarify how the SDF’s forces will be incorporated into Syria’s defense ministry, a key unresolved issue.

The move comes as Sharaa faces unrest in western Syria, where mass killings of Alawite civilians have sparked widespread condemnation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence, while analysts say the deal with the SDF could help Sharaa consolidate power and reassure minority groups.

For the SDF, the deal is seen as a hedge against uncertainty, particularly amid fears that U.S. President Donald Trump could suddenly withdraw American troops from Syria, ending a decade-long partnership with Kurdish forces against Islamic State.

The SDF has long been in conflict with Turkey-backed armed groups in northern Syria, though Ankara has not yet commented on the agreement.

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