Syrian military urges SDF fighters to join regular army

The operational command of Syria’s armed forces has called on fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — designated a terrorist organisation linked to the PKK — to leave the Kurdish-led coalition and join the regular army, state news agency reported.

“All Syrians within the SDF, including Kurds and Arabs, are offered an open door to defect and leave the organisation by reporting to the nearest Syrian Arab Army post,” the statement said.

The military warned that the presence of PKK fighters and supporters of previous authorities poses a threat to national security.

The appeal follows a March 2025 agreement between Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, under which SDF fighters were to be fully integrated into the national armed forces by the end of the year.

Subsequent negotiations, however, revealed significant differences: the SDF demanded a decentralised governance structure, while the government insisted on full control over north-eastern regions.

Tensions escalated on January 6 in Aleppo’s Kurdish districts, where clashes between government forces and SDF fighters left 24 people dead and 129 wounded. A ceasefire reached on January 10 allowed for the safe evacuation of civilians and combatants.

On January 13, the military declared the area east of Aleppo a closed military zone, accusing the SDF of using the surrounding areas to launch drones that had previously struck residential districts, army positions, and internal security forces.

By Aghakazim Guliyev