Latest agreement between SDF and the government enters its second month 

On January 29th, a comprehensive agreement was reached between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Interim Government, and officially announced on January 30th. The agreement stipulated a ceasefire and the commencement of a redeployment of military and internal security forces in Jazera and Kobani, along with the integration of autonomous administration institutions and the regularization of staff positions. It also included guarantees for the return of displaced persons, as part of efforts to unify the territory and enhance stability.

Today marks a full month since the agreement. What has been achieved?

The agreement's implementation began in early February, witnessing several concrete steps:

February 1: A coordination meeting was held away from the media between Marwan al-Ali, appointed by the Syrian Interim Government as commander of the security forces in Hasakah, and leaders of the Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria. The meeting took place in two sessions, one in Hasakah and the other in Qamishlo, with the participation of Internal Security Forces commander Mahmoud Khalil Ali.

February 2: Security forces redeployed in the countryside of Kobani, taking up positions previously determined through coordination between the two sides.

On the same day, some members of the Syrian Interim Government's security forces entered the city of Hasakah as part of a coordinated deployment with the Internal Security Forces of the Autonomous Administration.

February 3: Steps continued in Qamishlo as part of the redeployment of security forces.

February 5: A delegation from the Autonomous Administration of Kobani met at the Aleppo Governorate building with the head of the Internal Security Forces in Aleppo Governorate, Colonel Muhammad Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Governor of Aleppo, Ali Hanoura, and a number of officials from the Interim Government's security forces.

The Autonomous Administration delegation included the head of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration, Farhan Haj Issa, along with a number of representatives of organizations and the administration in the city of Kobani, in addition to tribal leaders from the Arab tribes.

February 6: Leaders from the Syrian Democratic Forces, led by General Command member Çiya Kobani, met with leaders of the Interim Government factions, led by Hamza al-Hamidi. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the stages of military integration and its implementation mechanisms, in 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 Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions, which, according to sources, are slated to become permanent bases for the three brigades planned for formation in Hasakah and its surrounding countryside.

February 9: Meetings were held between the Asayish (Kurdish security forces) and the General Security Command in Aleppo to discuss the implementation of the agreement in the Kobani countryside and to agree on security coordination.

On the same day, a delegation from the Syrian Interim Government met with administrators of the Rmelan oil fields to discuss operational procedures during a meeting at the field.

February 10: The redeployment of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Internal Security Forces (Asayish) began in the Jazera and Kobani regions.

February 13: A decree was issued appointing Noureddin Ahmed Issa as governor of Hasakah, based on an agreement between the SDF and the Syrian Interim Government to strengthen administrative and political coordination.

On the same day, the Governor of Hasakah, Noureddin Issa, received the Minister of Health in the Interim Government, Musab Nazal al-Ali, at the governorate building in the city center. The meeting, which was also attended by the Co-Chair of the Health Body in the Jazera, Mamo Khalil, focused on preparations for merging health institutions.

February 17: Preparations began in the Jazera region by civil society organizations and the Autonomous Administration for the return of approximately 500 displaced families from Afrin, in coordination with international bodies to ensure their safe return.

On February 21, Ziad al-Ayesh was appointed Presidential Envoy to monitor the implementation of the agreement and address any obstacles. Simultaneously, a technical delegation from the government arrived at Qamishlo International Airport as part of the agreement's provisions related to strategic facilities, and preparations began for the airport's reopening.

On February 22, a security delegation from the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) traveled to the city of Afrin and its surrounding countryside to coordinate the return of displaced persons. The Education Body of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria also met with representatives from the Ministry of Education of the Syrian Interim Government to discuss the state of education. Additionally, leaders from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) met with leaders from the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government.

On February 23, Asayish commander Mahmoud Khalil visited the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, accompanied by officials from the Syrian Interim Government. During a meeting in Raqqa, which included Brigadier General Marwan al-Ali, commander of the Internal Security Forces in Hasakah Governorate, Asayish commander Mahmoud Khalil, and Raqqa Governor Abdul Rahman Salama, a joint committee was formed to oversee the safe return of Kurds to their homes. This decision was part of ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of displaced persons.

On February 24, the Ministry of Health of the Interim Government issued a decision to integrate health and medical personnel previously working in northeastern Syria into the staff of the health directorates in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakah. This decision is based on the agreement signed with the Syrian Democratic Forces on January 30, 2016.

According to Decision No. 858, the health directors in these three regions were tasked with concluding the necessary contracts with those included in the integration and determining their work locations as needed. The contracts will become effective from the date of issuance of the implementing decisions.

On the same day, the Governor of Hasakah, Engineer Noureddin Ahmad, received a delegation from Damascus that included Presidential Envoy Brigadier General Ziad al-Ayesh, Director of the Political Affairs Department Abbas al-Hussein, Abdullah al-Abdullah, Director of Civil Status in Syria, and the Commander of Internal Security in the governorate, Brigadier General Marwan al-Ali. The attendees discussed mechanisms to expedite the integration process and enhance coordination among the relevant authorities.

On February 26, Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in the Internal Security Forces, accompanied by Brigadier General Marwan Al-Ali, the commander of the Internal Security Forces in Al-Hasakah Governorate, visited the areas of Tal Brak and Tal Hamis and met with the residents as part of strengthening communication with all components in the region.

Internal Security Forces (Asayish) commander Mahmoud Khalil, accompanied by Hasakah Governorate Internal Security chief Marwan al-Ali, met with Sheikh Maneh Hamidi al-Daham, head of the Shammar tribe, and Bandar al-Daham, military commander of the Sanadid Forces, as part of a tour that included towns in the southern countryside of Jazera.

On February 27, the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and the Internal Security Forces of the Interim Government's Ministry of Interior established joint checkpoints in the city of Jalabiya

This comes after the earlier establishment of joint checkpoints in the town of Shuyukh in the Kobani countryside and the deployment of security forces in the area.

Progress and Obstacles

Despite the initial security and administrative steps, some provisions remain incomplete, most notably: the continued siege of Kobani, the failure of Turkish-backed factions of the interim government to withdraw from the city's rural areas, the lack of integration of military forces into official units, the absence of integration between administrative institutions (with the exception of the health sector), and the lack of implementation of the provision for the return of displaced persons, particularly those from Afrin, Tal Abyad, and Ras al-Ayn beyond mere preparation.

Sh-S

ANHA