Syrian militia hands over troops amid state integration talks

A Kurdish-led militia controlling the majority of northeast Syria has handed over a number of detained government soldiers during negotiations with officials from the capital, Damascus, indicating tentative progress in the attempts at a deal to merge the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national administration.

The meeting held on October 20th in the northern province of Raqqa, which is largely controlled by the SDF, was described as a “gesture of goodwill” by the group as they handed over detainees who are members of the Damascus government forces, The National reported on October 21st. 

The handover comes in the backdrop of months of tension since President Ahmad Al Shara and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi inked a deal aimed at merging the SDF and its territories with the Syrian state. However implementation has been delayed mostly due to the SDF’s resistance to break up as well as Damascus’s insistence on full central command. 

On October 20th both parties also discussed escalating tensions in Aleppo, as the Syrian army had surrounded SDF-held territory which resulted in a rocket being fired, killing a security officer and damaging residential land. The conflict was mediated through a ceasefire deal, led by the US. Aleppo, which is under the control of the SDF, is Syria’s commercial capital and its second-biggest city. 

During the meeting both sides reaffirmed the commitments to reducing friction and preventing further escalation as the discussion focused on mechanisms to stabilise contested regions and safeguard civilians.

The SDF reiterated its stance on pursuing a secular and federal political framework, while Damascus maintained that such a system could fragment the country. 

The SDF, which continues to hold key energy and agricultural areas, remains central to Syria’s post-war reconstruction and governance, highlighting the importance of sustained dialogue to avoid renewed confrontation.

The National, Maghrebi.org