US brokers Syria talks: SDF negotiates military integration

Turkey has held talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) regarding Syria’s future, as the US facilitated the talks.

According to the Qatar government-friendly Middle East Eye on the 3rd of June, all parties discussed the US withdrawal from Syria alongside the handover of camps and prisons which hold Islamic State fighters and families.

One of the key parts of the talk involved how the SDF can be incorporated into the new Syrian military under Damascus command.

The new interim government in Syria has already made ground in stabilising relations with the SDF on March 10th when it signed an agreement with the Kurdish-led forces.

In recent months, the SDF and Syrian government forces have engaged in minor skirmishes near the Tishreen Dam. However, recent reports indicate that progress has been made in exchanging prisoners of war and permitting a Damascus delegation to inspect IS camps last month.

The ability for the SDF forces to accept and integrate into the new Syrian government would be integral to maintaining a stable society in Syria.

Now with the backing of the West, especially the US, al-Sharaa and his government have the opportunity to unite Syria, but sectarian violence is a major block to finding this stability.

Integrating the SDF is essential as they are a large force in Syria with over 100,000 fighters and modern military equipment, both of which can help bring stability to post-Assad Syria.

With Marco Rubio believing Syria is still on the verge of civil war, these talks can be of massive importance to allowing Syria to build itself into a stable society, backed by the lifting of economic sanctions.

Middle East Eye/Maghrebi.org