The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have rejected “demands” from the United States to surrender their weapons to Damascus and withdraw from strategic cities in northern and eastern Syria, as reported on July 28. These demands, conveyed by US envoy Tom Barrack, included the SDF’s withdrawal from Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, Hasakah, and Tabqa, as well as handing over armaments and returning control of natural resources and border crossings to the Syrian government.
In response, SDF representative Sihanouk Dibo stated that “laying down arms… is an issue that is not up for any discussion.” The SDF aims to integrate into a new Syrian army, pursuing a political solution that guarantees the constitutional rights of its components and peoples, along with political participation—something they believe is unattainable with the current Syrian government. Integration with Damascus’s forces, according to Dibo, must be a “step by step” process.
Despite disagreements, there is “good coordination between America and the SDF,” and the Kurdish group intends to “engage constructively” with the Syrian government. The SDF’s insistence on maintaining its autonomy as a bloc within the Syrian military, rather than completely dissolving, remains a point of contention. Farhad Shami, Director of the SDF Media Center, reiterated that “disarmament is a red line.” The pressure on the SDF coincides with a resurgence of ISIS activity in Syria, highlighting the complex security landscape in the region.
