January 29 SDF–Interim Govt. agreement: progress, setbacks

On January 29, a comprehensive agreement was reached between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Interim Government in Syria. It was officially announced on January 30. The agreement stipulated a ceasefire and the initiation of a process to redeploy military forces and internal security forces in the al-Jazira canton and Kobani, alongside the integration of the autonomous administration’s institutions and the formal confirmation of employees in their posts. It also includes guarantees for the return of displaced persons, within efforts aimed at unifying territories and enhancing stability.

The practical implementation of the agreement began at the start of February, with several tangible steps taking place:

February 1: A coordination meeting was held to discuss the first practical steps away from the media. It brought together Marwan al-Ali, appointed by the Syrian Interim Government as the commander of security forces in al-Hasakah, and leaders of the Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria. The discussions took the form of two meetings, one in the city of al-Hasakah and another in Qamishlo, with the participation of Internal Security Forces commander Mahmoud Khalil Ali, known as “Siyamand Afrin.”

February 2: The countryside of Kobani witnessed the redeployment of security forces, which positioned themselves at pre-designated points coordinated between the two sides.

On the same day, a number of security personnel affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government entered the city of al-Hasakah as part of a coordinated deployment with the Internal Security Forces of the autonomous administration.

February 3: Steps continued in Qamishlo within the framework of redeploying security forces.

February 5: A delegation from the Democratic Autonomous Administration DAA in Kobani met at the Aleppo Governorate building with the Commander of Internal Security in Aleppo Governorate, Colonel Mohammed Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Governor of Aleppo, Ali Hanoura, and several officials from security forces affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government.

The autonomous administration delegation included the head of the Executive Council of the autonomous administration, Farhan Haj Issa, along with several representatives of organizations and administrative bodies in Kobani, in addition to notables from Arab tribes.

February 6: Leaders from the Syrian Democratic Forces, headed by General Command member Jia Kobani, met with leaders of factions affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government, headed by Hamza al-Hamidi. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the stages of military integration and the mechanisms for its implementation, marking one of the most prominent practical steps related to restructuring cooperation between the two sides.

The meeting was followed by a joint field tour that included several SDF positions, which according to sources are scheduled to be transformed into permanent bases for the three brigades planned to be formed within al-Hasakah and its countryside.

February 9: Meetings were held between the Asayish and the General Security Command in Aleppo to discuss the implementation of the agreement in the countryside of Kobani and to agree on security coordination.
On the same day, a delegation from the Syrian Interim Government held discussions with administrators of the Rmelan oil fields directorate regarding work mechanisms during a meeting held at the field.

February 10: The process of redeploying the Syrian Democratic Forces and Internal Security Forces in the al-Jazira and Kobani areas officially began.

February 13: A decree was issued appointing Nour al-Din Ahmad Issa as Governor of al-Hasakah, based on the agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Interim Government in Syria, in order to enhance administrative and political coordination.

On the same day, the Governor of al-Hasakah, Nour al-Din Issa, received the Minister of Health in the Syrian Interim Government, Musab Nazzal al-Ali, at the governorate building in the city center, in the presence of the Co-Chair of the Health Authority in the Jazira Canton, Memo Khalil. The two sides discussed preparations for integrating health institutions.

February 17: Preparations began in the al-Jazira areas by civil society institutions and the autonomous administration for the return of approximately 500 displaced families from Afrin, in coordination with international bodies to ensure safe return.

On February 21, Ziyad al-Ayesh was appointed as a presidential envoy to follow up on the implementation of the agreement and remove obstacles facing it. This coincided with the arrival of a technical delegation from the government at Qamishlo International Airport as part of the agreement’s provisions concerning strategic facilities, where preparations began to operate the airport.

progress and obstacles

Despite the initial security and administrative steps, some provisions remain unimplemented in full. Most notably: the continued siege imposed on the city of Kobani and the failure of factions affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government, supported by the Turkish occupation, to withdraw from the city’s countryside; the military forces have not been fully integrated into official units; administrative institutions have not yet been merged; and the clause regarding the return of displaced persons, particularly those displaced from Afrin, Tel Abyad / Girê Spî, and Serekaniye has not been implemented.

Kobani: A real test of the agreement’s success

The city of Kobani is considered a significant test of the agreement’s success, particularly regarding its security and administrative aspects. Coordination meetings have taken place between the Asayish and government forces; however, implementation on the ground has not yet reached a broad or comprehensive level, making Kobani a genuine testing ground for the agreement’s viability and continuity.

ANHA