A responsible Syrian source told that the understandings reached in the meeting held on Tuesday between Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces , Mazloum Abdi, and the Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations in the Democratic Autonomous Administration, Ilham Ahmed, include “the files of the crossings and oil fields, regulating the status of the Women’s Protection Units, in addition to arrangements to guarantee Kurdish rights and integrate a number of SDF and Autonomous Administration leaders into state institutions,” including Abdi and Ahmed, “pending the completion of the official procedures and decrees regulating these arrangements.”
The file of northeastern Syria is entering a new phase with the announcement of the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Autonomous Administration, and the start of completing the arrangements for the integration of military and security forces and civil administrations within the institutions of the Syrian state.
Appointments by decree
The source explained that Ilham Ahmed will be among the Sharia-related appointments in the People’s Assembly.
Ilham Ahmed will be among the Sharia-related appointments in the People's Assembly
He stressed that confirming her membership, as well as the advisory position assigned to Mazloum Abdi, requires the issuance of an official decree, explaining that the information related to the two appointments exists, but they cannot be considered valid or definitively confirmed before the decree is issued.
He said that these understandings came after more than six months of work by the concerned parties and the presidential team on the integration file and the implementation of the January 29 agreement, culminating in Abdi’s announcement of the dissolution of the “SDF” and the self-administration, and the integration with the army and internal security, in addition to the integration of the administrations within the government and the handover of the crossings and oil fields.
He added that leaders from the SDF have already obtained positions within state institutions, while Abdi and Ahmed will also have their positions within state institutions as part of the new arrangements.
Expected appointments
Regarding the anticipated appointments of officials and leaders of the Autonomous Administration and the SDF in state institutions, the source indicated that the main appointments were decided during Tuesday’s meeting, while some other arrangements and appointments of a limited nature remain and will not have a significant impact on the overall situation.
He stressed that the leaders of the SDF and the Autonomous Administration will assume positions in state institutions, but the positions they occupy will not be fixed or linked to specific individuals, as any official can be changed according to performance evaluation and the public interest.
He clarified that appointing someone to any position, such as governor or department head, does not mean that the position becomes their exclusive domain; rather, the state can replace them at any time. He added that if any official or employee is found to be negligent or corrupt, the state has the right to replace them with someone else.
Women's Protection Units
Regarding the reorganization of the security and military forces, and the future of the Women’s Protection Units, the source explained that the female members of the units will not join the Syrian army as fighters, but will be absorbed into the staff of the Ministry of Interior.
He added that if they were to join the army, it would be in administrative roles, such as working on computers or performing office tasks, and not as fighters, stressing that the decision not to integrate them as fighters is final.
The source revealed that leaders from the Women’s Protection Units held meetings with the Syrian Interior Minister to discuss the formula for the women’s units to join the ministry, instead of being integrated into the Syrian army, given the army’s rejection of the option of including them in its ranks.
Oil and border crossings
Regarding the oil and strategic resources file, the source said that the state took over the oil fields more than two months ago, and that the process of taking them over and operating them has become part of the state's arrangements.
Regarding the border crossings, he explained that the handover process took place sequentially, as the Semalka crossing was received by the state, and the Yarubiyah crossing was opened and handed over, while the Qamishli crossing was received, and preparations are currently underway to complete the arrangementsfor its full operation.
Regarding the oil and strategic resources file, the source said that the state took control of the oil fields more than two months ago, and that the process of taking them over and operating them is now part of the state's arrangements.
He pointed out that the Semalka crossing still plays a humanitarian role, given that there are people in the camps who do not have passports and use special cards for entry and exit, which are technical arrangements related to the nature of the crossing.
He confirmed that the management of the crossings is now under the authority of the state, and that the directors of the Semalka and Yaroubiya crossings were appointed by the state, while some personnel are still working at the crossings under transitional arrangements.
Weapons and military integration
Regarding the issue of heavy weapons and the unification of military security decisions, the source confirmed that the general trend is that weapons have become entirely subject to the state, its instructions and laws, noting that heavy weapons cannot remain in the possession of formations outside state institutions.
He added that the fighters who will be integrated into the Syrian army will become part of the military establishment, and therefore carrying weapons will be linked to military status and to the instructions and laws regulating the armed forces.
He pointed out that the remaining files are mainly related to completing administrative procedures in some departments and institutions, considering that these arrangements are of a routine nature and can be completed gradually during the next stage, so that every employee or official knows his position, role and specialization within the state structure.End of self-governance
According to the source, the new phase means the end of the self-administration in its previous form and the end of the SDF as an independent military force, with work in the political field being transferred to the party and institutional framework of the state.
The new phase means the end of the self-administration in its previous form and the end of the SDF as an independent military force, with work in the political field moving to the party and institutional framework of the state.
He explained that the forces and figures that were part of the self-administration or the “SDF” will be able to engage in political work through the laws of parties approved by the parliament, and under the same conditions applied to the rest of the political forces, without discrimination.
He stressed that the military and security file has been completed, in terms of the existence of forces independent of the state, and that institutions and departments are being distributed within the central administration structure in Damascus, so that each minister assumes responsibility for the institutions and departments affiliated with his ministry.
Kurdish rights
In parallel with the political, military and administrative arrangements, the source said that the Kurdish language will be included in the school curricula according to a specific mechanism and a certain number of hours, stressing that Kurdish rights are guaranteed, especially after the issuance of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s Decree No. 13 related to the rights of the Kurdish component.
He added that work is continuing to complete the necessary steps to fully empower the state in all areas of Al-Hasakah Governorate, within the framework of integrating institutions and unifying administration under the umbrella of the Syrian state.
Thus, according to the source, the region is moving from a model of self-administration and independent military force to a centralized administration that follows state institutions, while allowing former political figures and forces to continue their activities through the political and legal frameworks adopted in Syria.
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