Panorama of the Week: SDF announcement opens new phase in Syria amid Israeli escalation

Arab newspapers published over the past week covered the announcement of the end of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ mission and the launch of a process to integrate the force into state institutions, coinciding with rising Israeli tensions in Syria and growing regional competition over the country’s future and the influence of various powers.

SDF Announcement Raises Questions About the Next Phase

The announcement by SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi received extensive attention, with Arab newspapers portraying it as a political and security shift extending beyond the mere end of a military formation’s mission. Coverage focused on the fate of the understandings between Damascus and the SDF and whether they could translate the announcement into practical arrangements that ensure stability in Kurdish areas and safeguard the rights of their residents.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed placed the outstanding questions at the center of its coverage, describing the announcement as a “major turning point,” while noting that several issues still require settlements, including the chain of command, the future of security services, local administration, the Kurds’ cultural and political rights, and the status of some military formations.

Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar focused on the details of the understandings, reporting on arrangements concerning the integration of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) into the Interior Ministry, the inclusion of Kurdish leaders in state institutions, as well as issues related to the Kurdish language and political participation.

Kurdish Rights Enter Testing Phase

Asharq Al-Awsat focused on the transition of the integration process from the political framework to the implementation phase, noting that Kurdish-language education is among the issues requiring agreement, alongside arrangements for integrating the Women’s Protection Units and determining the future of leaders and institutions associated with the Autonomous Administration.

The newspaper also highlighted constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights, arguing that the success of the understandings will depend on how military arrangements are translated into clear political and administrative participation within the Syrian state.

Meanwhile, Independent Arabia pointed to the potential roles of some SDF leaders in the next phase, citing sources as saying that “Mazloum Abdi will assume the role of special adviser to the Syrian presidency on Kurdish affairs,” alongside reports of political roles for Ilham Ahmed and guarantees for the right to use the Kurdish language.

Israeli Escalation and Competition for Influence in Syria

Alongside the SDF integration file, attention has intensified around Israeli tensions inside Syria, particularly following the Israeli strike on Abu al-Duhur Airport in the Idlib countryside and the tensions it triggered with Turkey.

Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Washington had managed to contain the dispute between Ankara and Tel Aviv, noting that Syria had become a direct point of friction between the security calculations of the two powers.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi linked the developments to the rise of transitional government head Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israel’s reassessment of its approach toward Damascus, asking about the “direction of the new Syrian policy.” It also examined the Israeli strike through the lens of Turkish-Israeli rivalry and raised the possibility of using the Syrian arena to “heat up the Turkish front.”

ANHA