Military Discussions Between SDF Leadership and New Syrian Administration in Damascus
In a significant development, a representative from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has confirmed that recent meetings with the new Syrian administration in Damascus were solely focused on military aspects. These meetings, described as positive, discussed practical coordination mechanisms following the SDF’s absence from a broader meeting led by Ahmed Al-Sarraf, the leader of the new administration, with military faction leaders in Damascus at the end of last year.
Basam Ishaq, head of the SDC office in Washington
In a phone interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, elaborated that the discussions held by the SDF leadership with the new Syrian administration on Monday last week “addressed military matters only and focused on coordination mechanisms and shared issues.”
Since opposition forces entered Aleppo, northern Syria, at the end of the previous year, Ishaq revealed that SDF leaders have maintained direct and continuous communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to ensure the safety of the Kurdish component and other groups living in camps and the Tel Rifaat area (Aleppo countryside), alongside protecting residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods within Aleppo. He emphasized that coordination and cooperation mechanisms have been at their highest level from the start.
Ishaq further stated:
“Since December 8th of last year, the SDF leadership and the Operations Room (Repelling Aggression) have been in direct contact, coordinating all military aspects and field developments, including all arrangements on the ground.”
This marks the first formal interaction of its kind since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad on December 8th of the previous year, at a time when Kurdish fighters are engaged in battles with Turkey-backed factions in northern Syria. These factions have besieged the city of Ain al-Arab (Kobani) in eastern Aleppo’s countryside after capturing Manbij in the same region and strategic Tel Rifaat town. These Syrian cities are now under the influence of Turkish operations.
Regarding the meetings that Al-Sarraf held with Syrian armed factions without the SDF, the SDC
representative clarified, “The SDF was not present at the meeting Al-Sarraf held with the leaders
of opposition factions due to its particular military situation. However, the last meeting with him
was official and public, indicating a positive sign that matters between the parties are resolving
through dialogue.” He noted that the meeting was cordial and without issues, adding that the
Syrian flag would be raised in all areas controlled by the SDF.
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces supported by the United States and the
international coalition, controls Raqqa city, the center of Raqqa province in the north, along with
the towns of Al-Khafsa and Maskana west of the Euphrates River, and the entirety of Hasakah and
Deir ez-Zor’s northern eastern countryside.
Ishaq confirmed that since the fall of Assad’s regime, the SDF has advanced towards areas
previously controlled by Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and Iranian militias west of the
Euphrates, securing and then handing these regions over to forces of the new administration. He
concluded by saying, “From the very first moment, there has been ongoing coordination; we will
see the Syrian flag unified not only in areas of the new administration but across all Syrian
territories, including east of the Euphrates, with hope that it extends to regions under Turkish
occupation.”
