SDF to sign another landmark integration deal with Damascus: Commander
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is set to sign another integration agreement with the Syrian transitional government on Sunday, which includes the establishment of brigades for women fighters, borders and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), a senior SDF commander revealed to Rudaw.
An SDF delegation, led by its chief Mazloum Abdi, arrived in Damascus on Sunday for talks with the government on the ongoing process to integrate the SDF and the Kurdish region in northeast Syria into state institutions.
“A document on combating ISIS will be signed with the government, along with another document on integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the army within military divisions,” Abu Omar al-Idlibi, a senior commander of the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - said.
He added that three divisions and three brigades - for female fighters, border security and counterterrorism - to be established.
Other progress includes the setting of a new deadline for the implementation of the provisions of the March agreement related to civilian files.
Abdulkarim Omer, who represents the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) in Damascus, told Rudaw on Saturday that Americans are mediating the talks. SDF-affiliated media reported that Kevin Lambert, the commander of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, is taking part in the Sunday meeting.
Idlibi said the representatives of some Arab states, Lambert, and the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack are serving as the guarantors of the new agreement. Rudaw could not independently confirm the involvement of these individuals in the latest meeting.
RELATED: Top Rojava delegation arrives in Damascus for integration talks
An SDF delegation, led by its chief Mazloum Abdi, arrived in Damascus on Sunday for talks with the government on the ongoing process to integrate the SDF and the Kurdish region in northeast Syria into state institutions.
“A document on combating ISIS will be signed with the government, along with another document on integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the army within military divisions,” Abu Omar al-Idlibi, a senior commander of the North Democratic Forces - a component of the SDF - said.
He added that three divisions and three brigades - for female fighters, border security and counterterrorism - to be established.
Other progress includes the setting of a new deadline for the implementation of the provisions of the March agreement related to civilian files.
Abdulkarim Omer, who represents the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) in Damascus, told Rudaw on Saturday that Americans are mediating the talks. SDF-affiliated media reported that Kevin Lambert, the commander of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, is taking part in the Sunday meeting.
Idlibi said the representatives of some Arab states, Lambert, and the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack are serving as the guarantors of the new agreement. Rudaw could not independently confirm the involvement of these individuals in the latest meeting.
RELATED: Top Rojava delegation arrives in Damascus for integration talks
Nalin Hassan contributed to this article from Erbil.
Updated at 3:54 pm