Syrian government takes control of security hub in Ain al-Arab PHOTO

Syria’s Interior Ministry announced that it has formally assumed control of the Internal Security Directorate headquarters in the northern city of Ain al-Arab, describing the move as a further step toward integrating local security forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions.

In a statement published on Telegram, the ministry said a delegation from Aleppo’s Internal Security Command toured the facility, inspecting administrative offices and several affiliated police departments. The visit was aimed at assessing operational readiness and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of public services.

The delegation also met with representatives of the SDF’s Internal Security Forces, known as the Asayish, to discuss aligning local administrative and organizational structures with those of the Interior Ministry. The talks included a review of a phased plan designed to consolidate command structures and strengthen institutional governance.

The development follows a January 30 announcement by the Syrian government that it had reached a ceasefire agreement with the SDF. The agreement outlined a broader framework for the gradual integration of SDF military and administrative bodies into state institutions, as well as the transfer of civilian institutions, government facilities, and border crossings to state control.

By Vafa Guliyeva