SDF Leader Rejects Disarmament, Seeks Negotiated Military Integration

Synopsis

In a recent statement, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, affirmed that his troops will not surrender their weapons but are open to discussing their role in Syria's future military formation, emphasizing the need for a unified national army.

Key Takeaways

Mazloum Abdi asserts SDF will not disarm.
SDF seeks negotiation for military integration.
Abdi warns against separate armies in Syria.
US troops play a crucial mediating role.
Turkiye views SDF as linked to PKK.

Damascus, Jan 19 (NationPress) The prominent leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, stated that his fighters are not planning to relinquish their arms or disband their ranks; instead, they are open to discussions regarding their integration into Syria's prospective military framework. In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Abdi cautioned that any method apart from a mutual agreement could "lead to major problems."

"We have not made any decision to give up our arms or dissolve our forces," Abdi mentioned, emphasizing that the SDF is receptive to negotiations aimed at establishing "a unified national army." He proposed forming a collaborative military committee to explore this matter and strongly opposed having "two separate armies in Syria."

Abdi pointed out that representatives of the SDF were excluded from discussions spearheaded by Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, concerning the integration of various factions into Syria's new Defense Ministry, as reported by Xinhua news agency. "The results of those meetings do not concern us because we were not included in them," he asserted, highlighting that the SDF's relationship with al-Sharaa is dictated by actions rather than mere words.

Addressing rumors about Iranian support, Abdi refuted claims that Iran has provided the SDF with weaponry, including drones, and stressed that the presence of US forces remains vital as mediators. "We appreciate the role of American troops in Syria to help bridge differences in perspectives," he stated.

The SDF, backed by US support and predominantly composed of Kurdish units, governs extensive territories in northern and eastern Syria.

An SDF delegation met with al-Sharaa in Damascus on December 30 for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's administration on December 8, 2024.

Amid the unexpected advance of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces into Damascus in early December, Turkish-backed factions initiated an offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, compelling the SDF to retreat from specific regions.

Turkiye classifies the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which are integral to the SDF, as a faction of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

No immediate response has been received from the new Syrian government regarding Abdi's remarks, although officials have previously expressed intentions to unify all factions into a cohesive national force.