Syrian Defense Minister Rejects Kurdish Proposal for Military Autonomy
SDF's Demand for Separate Military Bloc Denied Amid Integration Talks
DAMASCUS: Syria’s newly appointed defense minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, has rejected a proposal by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to maintain a separate military bloc within the unified Syrian armed forces.
This development comes amid ongoing negotiations between the SDF and the transitional government in Damascus, which assumed power following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad on December 8, 2024.
The SDF, a Kurdish-led entity that controls a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Syria, has been in dialogue with the new administration to secure a decentralized governance structure.
However, Abu Qasra, speaking from the Defense Ministry in Damascus, emphasized his opposition to the SDF's plan to integrate as a distinct military bloc rather than being absorbed into the hierarchy of the existing Syrian Defense Ministry.
“We say that they would enter the Defense Ministry within the hierarchy of the Defense Ministry, and be distributed in a military way — we have no issue there,” Abu Qasra stated.
“But for them to remain a military bloc within the Defense Ministry, such a bloc within a big institution is not right.”
The integration of the SDF into the national military structure remains a contentious issue.
While the United States considers the SDF a crucial ally in the fight against Daesh militants, neighboring Turkiye perceives the group as a security threat.
Despite these diplomatic complexities, the Syrian defense minister indicated his intention to incorporate all anti-Assad factions, including the SDF, into a cohesive command structure.
Abu Qasra, appointed on December 21, 2024, belongs to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the Islamist group which played a pivotal role in Assad's downfall.
Since taking office, a key focus of Abu Qasra has been to finalize the integration of senior military leadership by March 1, 2025, coinciding with the end of the transitional government’s mandate.
Abu Qasra addressed criticism regarding the council's authority to enact significant military changes, citing "security issues" as a priority that necessitates quick action.
Additionally, he noted that the decision to grant military ranks to some foreigners, such as Egyptians and Jordanians, has sparked controversy, though he reported no current extradition requests for these individuals.
This development comes amid ongoing negotiations between the SDF and the transitional government in Damascus, which assumed power following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad on December 8, 2024.
The SDF, a Kurdish-led entity that controls a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Syria, has been in dialogue with the new administration to secure a decentralized governance structure.
However, Abu Qasra, speaking from the Defense Ministry in Damascus, emphasized his opposition to the SDF's plan to integrate as a distinct military bloc rather than being absorbed into the hierarchy of the existing Syrian Defense Ministry.
“We say that they would enter the Defense Ministry within the hierarchy of the Defense Ministry, and be distributed in a military way — we have no issue there,” Abu Qasra stated.
“But for them to remain a military bloc within the Defense Ministry, such a bloc within a big institution is not right.”
The integration of the SDF into the national military structure remains a contentious issue.
While the United States considers the SDF a crucial ally in the fight against Daesh militants, neighboring Turkiye perceives the group as a security threat.
Despite these diplomatic complexities, the Syrian defense minister indicated his intention to incorporate all anti-Assad factions, including the SDF, into a cohesive command structure.
Abu Qasra, appointed on December 21, 2024, belongs to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the Islamist group which played a pivotal role in Assad's downfall.
Since taking office, a key focus of Abu Qasra has been to finalize the integration of senior military leadership by March 1, 2025, coinciding with the end of the transitional government’s mandate.
Abu Qasra addressed criticism regarding the council's authority to enact significant military changes, citing "security issues" as a priority that necessitates quick action.
Additionally, he noted that the decision to grant military ranks to some foreigners, such as Egyptians and Jordanians, has sparked controversy, though he reported no current extradition requests for these individuals.