Media: Damascus denies Kurdish-led SDF’s request for military autonomy

Syria's new Defence Minister has rejected a proposal from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to form a separate military bloc within the integrated Syrian armed forces.

Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, speaking in Damascus, argued that the SDF’s demands for autonomy within the Defence Ministry would not be appropriate for Syria's newly unified command structure, Caliber.Az reports via Al Jazeera.

The SDF, which controls parts of northeastern Syria, has been negotiating with the Damascus government since former rebels took power on December 8. One of the SDF’s key demands, as articulated by commander Mazloum Abdi, is a decentralized administration that would allow the SDF to retain its identity as a distinct military bloc. Abdi expressed openness to integration with the Defence Ministry, but insisted that the group should not be dissolved.

However, Minister Abu Qasra firmly rejected this proposal. “We say that they would enter the Defence Ministry within the hierarchy of the Defence Ministry and be distributed in a military way – we have no issue there,” he said. “But for them to remain a military bloc within the Defence Ministry, such a bloc within a big institution, is not right.”

The integration of Syria's diverse armed groups into a cohesive military structure has been a central priority for Abu Qasra since he took office in December. Yet, the process has faced significant challenges, particularly with the SDF. While the United States views the SDF as a vital ally in the fight against ISIL (ISIS), neighbouring Türkiye regards the group as a national security threat due to its links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Abu Qasra accused the SDF of procrastination in negotiations, asserting that integrating the group into the Defence Ministry was a "right of the Syrian state." He expressed hope that the process would be completed by March 1, when the transitional government’s term is set to end.

Amid concerns over the transitional government’s authority, Abu Qasra defended the military restructuring, citing “security issues” as the driving force behind the rapid changes. The government’s decision to appoint some foreigners, including Egyptians and Jordanians, to military ranks has also attracted criticism. Abu Qasra acknowledged the controversy but noted that he was not aware of any requests for the extradition of foreign fighters.

The minister’s remarks signal a critical moment in Syria's ongoing efforts to consolidate power, with the integration of the SDF being one of the most delicate issues facing the new government.

By Aghakazim Guliyev