SDF: Next steps of transitional govt. determine integration fate into new Syrian army 

A military and security delegation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria held talks in Damascus on October 13 with officials from Syria’s transitional government to discuss security and military issues. Today, the member of the SDF General Command and head of the military committee in talks with the government, Sipan Hemo, revealed details of those discussions and the progress made between the two sides.

In his statement, published by the SDF Media Center, Hemo provided a comprehensive overview of the SDF’s vision regarding the ongoing dialogue with the government and the obstacles that have emerged since the signing of the March 10, 2025 agreement. Below is the full text as published:

“On behalf of the Syrian Democratic Forces, I greet all the components of North and East Syria and of Syria as a whole. As you know, a series of meetings and dialogues have been taking place between us and the Damascus government. The term ‘integration’ entered the language of our negotiations following the March 10 agreement.

Since the establishment of the Syrian Democratic Forces, we have fought for a core goal we adopted from the beginning: building a democratic Syria based on participation and the guarantee of rights for all Syrian components without discrimination or exclusion. Our forces were founded for this very purpose and remain committed to it. We have fought fierce battles against the terrorist organization ISIS and against all aggressors, making great sacrifices in pursuit of that goal.

SDF: A political and social project before being a military force

The Syrian Democratic Forces are not merely a military formation; they embody a clear political and social mission. From the outset, we have struggled against marginalization, dictatorship, and oppression and we continue this struggle.

This fight persisted with steady determination until the fall of the Ba’ath regime, after which a temporary government was formed, led by the “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” On March 10, 2025, we signed an agreement with this interim government, and since that time, we have engaged in direct dialogue on how to implement the accord.

Integration as a prerequisite for building the new Syrian army

We aim to participate in the integration process within the new Syrian army being formed, and we believe that the Syrian Democratic Forces constitute the foundation for building a new national army. In truth, no national Syrian army can be built without the participation of the SDF. Therefore, we have declared our readiness to join the new army. This is our strategic objective.

In recent months, accusations have been directed at our forces, alleging that we are obstructing or delaying the integration process. These claims are entirely false and baseless.

On the contrary, we wish to join the new army, but certain parties continue to interpret the integration issue through the narrow lens of the old regime’s mentality.

These parties are trying to eliminate our forces or erase their political, social, and administrative identity. Something we will never accept. Such attempts cannot be described as patriotic, nor do they serve any legitimate national goal.

We stress that the kind of integration we call for must preserve the SDF’s identity and respect its struggle. And we are not speaking only for the people of North and East Syria, but for all Syrian communities—Sunnis, Druze, Christians, Kurds, and Alawites alike.

If the rights of even one group are not recognized, then Syria will not have rid itself of the injustice it has suffered for decades.

Damascus Meeting: positive atmosphere that needs tangible results

During the latest meeting in Damascus—attended by us, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, and several US officials—a generally positive atmosphere prevailed.

However, no concrete results were achieved. The outcomes were limited to verbal promises and general hopes, with no clear or written agreements.

We emphasized the need to translate this positive atmosphere into practical steps on the ground.

Barriers of trust and reassurance

During the meeting, we discussed mechanisms for the integration of SDF forces into the Syrian army. We explained in detail the reasons behind the SDF’s creation and its struggle, and we made it clear that the same conditions that led to our establishment still exist today.

For the integration process to succeed, the causes of insecurity and threats facing our people in North and East Syria must be addressed.

In our view, the transitional government has so far failed to foster genuine trust and safety among Syria’s various communities and has not taken serious steps to allay their fears.

Recently, we have witnessed disastrous conduct by the government and its forces, including massacres targeting Alawites and Druze, as well as widespread lawlessness throughout the country.

These acts pose serious challenges to the SDF integration efforts and confirm the urgent need for our continued presence to protect our people. We have asked: what positive, concrete steps has the transitional government taken to support integration amid such violations?

The Sheikh Maqsoud attack and new fears

Even as we discuss integration, the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo has been besieged and attacked, despite the March 10 agreement under which our forces withdrew from the area.

Nevertheless, factions affiliated with the Damascus government assaulted the besieged neighborhood, attempting to replicate the massacres seen in Sweida and the coastal region, attacking from ten different axes.

Had it not been for the steadfastness of the residents, drawing on their experience from 2013 to 2016, the disaster would have been far greater.

These assaults raise serious questions and fears and stand in stark contradiction to the government’s claims that the situation is improving.

For this reason, positive rhetoric must be turned into tangible actions that inspire confidence, not deeds that generate tension and turmoil as is happening now.

Exclusion from decision-making institutions

We have repeatedly emphasized that excluding Syria’s diverse communities, especially the people of North and East Syria, from dialogue conferences, constitutional drafting, lawmaking, and government formation poses a real problem for us.

The other side must realize that disrespecting the will of Syria’s components will prevent the current government from becoming truly representative of the Syrian people.

No government or army can earn the people’s respect unless all communities take part in its construction. Syria cannot be a homeland for all unless all are allowed to participate. We will not permit a return to the exclusionary policies that Syrians have endured for decades.

The SDF’s presence is essential for protecting Syria and its communities

We affirm that our presence within the Syrian army is a necessary condition for overcoming the current crisis and protecting all communities. But this integration must be based on mutual respect and partnership—not on the exclusionary or eliminationist views still present among some in Damascus.

Thus, dialogue will continue, and addressing our people’s concerns will remain the foundation for any step we take.

As long as the current government fails to take real measures to reassure all Syrian components, the SDF will continue to defend our people’s existence, lives, and identity against any threat.

The timeline of the integration process

We made it clear to Damascus officials that the pace of the integration process depends on their future actions and attitudes toward the rights of all Syrian communities and the opening of the path toward true national partnership.

Their upcoming steps will determine whether the integration will accelerate, slow down, or perhaps freeze altogether.

We gave them one clear example: the Afrin issue. We told them that the return of displaced Afrin residents, compensation for victims, and accountability for perpetrators of violations are key indicators of the government’s seriousness about building a national army.

We stated that their stance on Afrin will be the real test of their position on all other issues in North and East Syria and in Syria as a whole.

If they act justly regarding Afrin, lifting injustices and facilitating the return of the displaced, then we can view the transitional government differently, not only for Afrin’s sake but for all Syrian regions.

SDF: A unifying national force

We reaffirmed that the Syrian Democratic Forces are a Syrian national force—the only one capable of coordination and communication with all Syrian communities, including Sunnis, Kurds, Druze, Alawites, Christians, and even the government in Damascus.

We are ready to be the core nucleus of the new Syrian army and a guarantee for correcting the country’s political and military path.

Through our struggle and policies, our forces have demonstrated the success of their national project in preserving Syria’s geographical and social unity, at a time when the country was being torn apart by sectarianism and division.

For this reason, the SDF enjoys wide respect among Syria’s diverse communities.

A message to the people of North and East Syria

Since the formation of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and later the Syrian Democratic Forces, we have sacrificed thousands of martyrs in defense of our people and in pursuit of building a shared homeland for all Syrians.

We have achieved great accomplishments and will continue to achieve more in honor of our people’s sacrifices.

Today, our regions live in security and stability thanks to the SDF, while other parts of Syria remain plagued by chaos and daily killings.

We must therefore preserve what we have achieved and confront all plots and challenges ahead.

We hope that the state of safety and coexistence we enjoy will spread across all of Syria, from Sweida to the coast, from the interior to the north, based on tolerance, coexistence, and solidarity.

Our people must trust their forces and fighters, who will never hesitate to defend them and will continue their struggle no matter how great the challenges.

We call on everyone to remain vigilant against the enemies’ attempts to undermine our unity and carry out their malicious schemes.

In particular, we address the people of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, reminding them that the Syrian Democratic Forces, which sacrificed thousands of martyrs to liberate them from ISIS terrorism, will continue to defend and represent them in Damascus in a manner worthy of their sacrifices.”

A-H 

ANHA