The Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have signed an agreement with the Syrian government to integrate their civilian and military institutions into the state's framework, the Syrian presidency announced on Monday.
The accord was formalized in Damascus, where interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi were seen shaking hands. The agreement grants Damascus administrative control over SDF-held border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields in eastern Syria.
The signing comes at a critical moment for Sharaa, who is dealing with escalating violence in western Syria, where hundreds of Alawite minority members have been killed since Thursday. The government has accused loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad of inciting the violence, which Sharaa described as a major threat to his efforts to unite Syria after 14 years of conflict.
Assad, a member of the Alawite minority, was ousted from power in December by insurgents and later fled to Russia. Since then, Sharaa has been leading a transitional government.
Following the signing, Abdi described the deal as a "real opportunity to build a new Syria" and emphasized that the SDF is working alongside the government to ensure a transition that reflects the aspirations of the Syrian people for justice and stability. However, the accord does not specify how the SDF’s military forces will be integrated into Syria’s defense ministry, a major unresolved issue in previous negotiations.
The agreement also obligates the SDF to combat remnants of Assad’s regime, which the Islamist-led authorities in Damascus blame for sowing civil strife in western Syria. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the recent massacres of Alawite civilians on Sunday.
"The massacres have weakened Sharaa. He has a lot of trouble internally and with the United States. It could help him show that he is not hostile to all minorities," said Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International, a U.S.-based think tank, noting that the agreement remains vague.
In an interview with Reuters, Sharaa vowed to punish those responsible for the violence, including his own allies if necessary.
For Abdi, the agreement serves as a safeguard against a potential withdrawal of U.S. forces by President Donald Trump. The SDF has relied on U.S. military support for the past decade in its fight against the Islamic State in Syria. Abdi had initially proposed that the SDF join the defense ministry as a unified bloc rather than as individual soldiers, but this request was rejected by the interim government.
The SDF has also been engaged in a long-standing conflict with Turkey-backed Syrian armed groups in northern Syria, a situation that has persisted since Assad’s removal.
Turkey, a close ally of Sharaa, has yet to comment on the agreement. Implementation of the accord is expected by the end of the year.