The Presidency of the Republic announced that a joint understanding has been reached between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), addressing a number of issues related to the future of al-Hasakah Governorate and the mechanisms for its administration during the coming phase.
According to the presidential statement, it was agreed to grant the Syrian Democratic Forces a four-day period for internal consultations, in preparation for drafting a detailed plan that defines the practical mechanism for integrating the concerned areas. The statement clarified that, should a final agreement be reached, Syrian government forces will not enter the centers of the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli, but will instead remain deployed on their outskirts. Discussion of the timeline and details related to the peaceful integration of al-Hasakah Governorate, including the city of Qamishli, will be postponed to a later stage.
The Presidency confirmed that Syrian military forces will not enter villages with a Kurdish majority, and that these villages will not witness the presence of armed forces, with the exception of local security forces composed of residents of the area, in accordance with the provisions of the understanding.
The statement also indicated that the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, will propose a candidate from the SDF for the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, in addition to proposing a candidate for the post of Governor of al-Hasakah, as well as names to represent the governorate in the People’s Assembly, along with a list of individuals proposed for employment within Syrian state institutions.
Both parties further agreed to integrate all military and security formations affiliated with the SDF into the Ministries of Defense and Interior, while discussions continue regarding the detailed mechanisms for implementing the integration process. This will take place in parallel with the integration of civilian institutions into the administrative structure of the Syrian government.
The statement affirmed that the understanding includes the implementation of Decree No. 13, which pertains to linguistic and cultural rights and citizenship rights for Kurds, within the framework of a shared commitment to building a unified and strong Syria, based on national partnership and the guarantee of the rights of all its components.
The Presidency stated that implementation of this understanding will begin at 8:00 p.m. today.
For its part, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces announced its full commitment to the ceasefire agreed upon with the government in Damascus, stressing that it will not initiate any military action unless its forces are subjected to attacks in the future.
The SDF also emphasized its openness to political solutions, welcoming negotiation tracks and dialogue, and expressing readiness to move forward with the implementation of the 18 January agreement, in a manner that contributes to de-escalation and enhances stability in the region.
