Damascus: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has extended an invitation to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate their forces within the state institutions, emphasizing that the state has not demanded their dismantling. This statement was broadcasted by Syrian TV, highlighting a significant shift in the government's approach towards the SDF.
According to Anadolu Agency, excerpts from a televised interview aired by Al-Ikhbariya revealed that President al-Sharaa acknowledged the challenges in building trust with the SDF, citing their historical record during Syria's uprising. He noted that while the SDF maintained contact with the former government throughout the 14-year conflict, the Kurds participated individually without an official organizational role in the uprising.
President al-Sharaa pointed out that SDF advances in regions like Deir ez-Zor and parts of Aleppo during the liberation phase complicated the process, rather than aiding the former government. He further emphasized that the state's proposals were presented with international awareness, involving the US, the UN, and other key regional and European states.
Despite not being barred, the SDF chose not to participate in the national conference, government formation, or constitutional declaration. The state granted a nine-month period for trust-building, extending invitations without intent to exclude the SDF. Al-Sharaa highlighted that the SDF failed to comply with the April 2025 agreement to withdraw from Sheikh Maqsoud, leaving a few Interior Ministry personnel and local residents to manage the area's unique social structure.
The SDF announced the withdrawal completion, but subsequent clashes and shelling targeted residential neighborhoods, including Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, affecting Arabs, Kurds, and Christians. This violence undermined security in Aleppo, challenging efforts to promote it as an economic hub due to its strategic industrial and agricultural positions.
President al-Sharaa remarked that attracting global investment is impossible amid recurring shelling from residential areas. Protecting Aleppo and ensuring its stability remains a national priority. In March 2025, an agreement was announced for the SDF's integration into state institutions, reaffirming Syria's territorial unity and rejecting division attempts.
In April 2025, Syrian authorities signed an agreement for Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, ensuring their administrative ties to Aleppo while respecting local characteristics. The agreement banned armed manifestations, limited weapons to internal security forces, and required the SDF's withdrawal to areas east of the Euphrates River in northeastern Syria. Authorities claim that the SDF has not complied with these agreements.
Amid rising tensions with the YPG/SDF and remnants of the former regime, the Syrian Army has deployed additional military reinforcements to Aleppo's eastern countryside. The Syrian government is intensifying efforts to restore nationwide security following the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, concluding his 24-year rule.