The USA supports important Syria pact: Kurds integrate into the system!

The USA supports important Syria pact: Kurds integrate into the system!

Nordostsyrien, Syrien - The United States welcomed the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa and the commander of the Syrian democratic forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi. This agreement, which was formalized on Monday, provides for the integration of the forces guided by Kurds into the Syrian state institutions. This means that the SDF, which has managed a semi-autonomous region in Northeast Syria since 2015, is now handing over full control over this region to the Syrian central government, including important resources such as oil and gas fields and an airport. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the agreement and emphasized the need for a non-sectional government to prevent potential conflicts.

The new political development is of great importance in view of the continuing violence in Syria. In particular, a wave of fatal attacks in the country's Alawite stronghold has caused Al-Shara to strive for a breath for the new government. The agreement between the government and the SDF contains not only a ceasefire throughout Syria, but also the confirmation of the Kurdish population as an integral part of Syria with the right to citizenship and guaranteed constitutional rights.

integration of the SDF and challenges

The agreement comes into force at a crucial time, since Damascus is faced with the consequences of instability, which is particularly evident in the northeast of the country. Despite the agreement, there are concerns about security, since according to civilians, civilians have to suffer from bombing without distinction between the military and the civilian population. Again and again the risk of terrorism through Islamist groups and the challenges of the integration of the SDF into the central Syrian state are discussed.

The Americans had worked with the SDF to combat the ISIL (ISIS) threat, the so-called caliphate in 2019. Nevertheless, the security situation remains tense and the support of the USA for the SDF has burdened relationships with Turkey. The SDF sees this as an extension of the Kurdish PKK, which is classified by Ankara as a "terrorist organization". Despite international isolation, it remains of central importance for Turkey to secure control over border areas and the YPG, the main component of the SDF.

future of the Kurdish autonomy management

The agreement is perceived by numerous observers as one of the most important political developments since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. It shows the will of the new Syrian leadership of forming an inclusive government after sectarian conflicts have occurred for years. The SDF is required to support Damascus in the fight against the remains of the Assad regime. Nevertheless, it remains unclear to what extent all armed groups in the country can actually be integrated into the new national army.

Human rights organizations are concerned about the restrictions on political freedoms in the Kurdish autonomy administration. This has achieved autonomy that includes around 30 % of the Syrian territory. Nevertheless, the Kurdish autonomy management is worried about its future and control over the region, since discussions about a new Syrian constitution do not take into account the autonomy administration. Disagreement among the Kurdish factions also makes the common advocacy representation.

The current situation in Syria requires a careful procedure. While the United States and other countries are trying to stabilize the situation, the question of how the Kurdish forces and the civilian population will continue remains a central topic. The coming months will show whether the agreement of Monday can bring the hoped -for stability or whether the country will slip again into a phase of the unrest.