Abdi revealed that committees within the SDF are set to begin a series of meetings with the Syrian government in the coming days, aiming to hand over state institutions.

Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi confirmed during a meeting with representatives from Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria that the SDF has no intention of handing over control of its territories or dissolving the Autonomous Administration. This stance raises significant questions about the future of negotiations with Damascus, especially as the Syrian government, backed by Ankara, insists firmly on preserving Syria’s unity and sovereignty over all its lands.

The extended meeting took place in the city of al-Shaddadi, south of Hasakah, within a US military base. It included SDF commanders alongside representatives from both the civil and military councils of Deir ez-Zor province, as well as several tribal elders and local dignitaries.

According to exclusive sources cited by Syria TV, the meeting was conducted in two phases: first, with the western delegation, followed by a separate session with representatives from the eastern front.

The meeting was chaired by Abdi and attended by prominent figures within the Autonomous Administration, including Foza Youssef, Hassan Zuhat and Yasser Abbas al-Sulaiman.

Discussions focused primarily on the future of Deir ez-Zor, a province inhabited predominantly by Sunni Arab tribes and long under SDF control.

During the meeting, Abdi reiterated that the SDF does not intend to relinquish its areas of control or dismantle the Autonomous Administration. He stressed that any rapprochement with the Syrian state would be conditional, with key requirements including maintaining the existing administrative structure and integrating SDF forces into agreed security arrangements.

Abdi revealed that committees within the SDF are set to begin a series of meetings with the Syrian government in the coming days, aiming to hand over state institutions, including military facilities, starting with Deir ez-Zor and to be followed by Raqqa and Hasakah.

Observers interpret Abdi’s statements as indicating the emergence of common ground that could allow the SDF to rejoin the Syrian state as a unified body. However, these are preliminary stages, and a final agreement has yet to be reached.

Critics warn that the insistence on preserving the Autonomous Administration could become a major stumbling block in negotiations, as Damascus is unlikely to accept such a proposal. They argue that accepting an autonomous administration in the northeast could set a precedent, prompting demands for similar arrangements in other minority regions, such as Suwayda and the coastal areas.

Meanwhile, informed sources revealed that a planned meeting in Paris between Syrian government officials and a Kurdish delegation from the Autonomous Administration was postponed at the request of the US-led international coalition, which officially communicated the decision to the SDF.

The United States and France have taken on the role of mediators in the talks between Damascus and the Kurdish authorities, keen to ensure the success of negotiations. Yet, significant doubts remain as to whether either party is prepared to make the necessary concessions for a compromise that reassures Kurdish interests while upholding the Syrian state’s sovereignty.

French President Emmanuel Macron underlined these concerns in a telephone conversation on Saturday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Macron emphasised the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and of ensuring that all weapons remain under state control.

“Stability in Syria is a regional necessity and a humanitarian priority,” Macron stated.

The Arab Weekly report

The Kurds of Syria had it good under the Al Assad Gov. When the Americans refused to support the SDF against the Turkish incursions and invasions, Assad would assist militarily.

This has not prevented the Kurds from aiding the Americans in stealing Syrian oil and wheat or joining Jolani’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorists to overthrow the Al Assad government.