Syrian government forces to stay outside Kurdish communities, says SDF leader

Syrian government troops will not be deployed in Kurdish towns and villages in the country’s north and northeast, where security will continue to be maintained by local forces, according to Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, terrorist organisation PKK - ed.).

According to Syrian media, Abdi said work is currently underway to integrate these local security units into Syria’s Ministry of Interior. At the same time, the staff of the autonomous administration and state institutions operating in the Kurdish regions will keep their existing positions.

He added that a comprehensive agreement between the parties is set to take effect on February 2. Under the terms of the deal, SDF units and Syrian army forces will pull back from the contact lines in Ain al-Arab and Hasakah.

Abdi also made clear that he does not intend to assume any official government post. “I will not take any government position. I will remain with my people and will work on forming a political platform for the Kurds in Syria,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova