The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, stated that the group will not disband or surrender its weapons but is open to negotiations for incorporation into Syria’s future military structure.
This announcement follows comments from Syria’s new defense minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, who rejected the idea of the SDF retaining its current form as an independent bloc within the Syrian armed forces.
The SDF, a U.S.-backed group that controls large areas in northern and eastern Syria, has played a pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State but faces significant opposition from neighboring Turkey, which considers it linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Abdi emphasized that the SDF is willing to integrate into Syria’s Defense Ministry as part of a unified military force but insists on maintaining some autonomy. Abdi proposed creating a joint military committee to discuss the issue, warning that unilateral moves could lead to “major problems.”
According to Abdi, SDF representatives were not invited to discussions led by Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, regarding integrating various factions into Syria’s new defense ministry.
“The outcome of those meetings does not concern us because we were not part of them,” he said, further adding that the SDF’s relationship with al-Sharaa “depends on actions, not words.”
Abdi denied rumors of receiving arms from Iran, saying that the SDF relies on its existing resources. He also noted that the group values the U.S.’ role as mediator in Syria: “We value the presence of American troops in Syria to help narrow differences in viewpoints.”
The new Syrian administration did not immediately comment on Abdi’s statements, although officials have previously expressed a desire to integrate all factions into a unified national force.
