SDF leader renews unity deal with Syrian government after Suweida row

The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has renewed calls for the return of Syrian government institutions to the country's northeast, signalling a recommitment to the 10 March agreement with Damascus, under which the US-backed, Kurdish-led group formally acknowledged the unity of Syrian territory.

Speaking in a recent televised interview, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi emphasised the "need for government institutions to enter the Jazira region" and described the SDF's position as one of "commitment to the unity of Syrian territory".

The remarks marked a notable softening in tone following a period of heightened tension between the SDF and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

During last month's crisis in Suweida - where fierce sectarian clashes coincided with Israeli airstrikes - SDF leaders adopted a more combative stance.

Senior official Ilham Ahmad stated that integration of the SDF into the Syrian army would be "conditional on the existence of a clear structure" and demanded Damascus take a "clear position" on events in Suweida and the coastal region, casting a doubt on integration. 

That posture reportedly prompted the Syrian government to cancel a meeting with SDF representatives on the sidelines of a US-mediated summit in Paris, which included Syrian and Israeli delegations.

SDF media spokesperson Farhad Shami later clarified that military integration "would take place after the completion of the political transition and the formation of a government that represents everyone".

Abdi's latest statements reiterated long-standing demands for decentralisation and official recognition of the Kurdish language in Kurdish-majority regions.

However, he deferred discussion of the most sensitive issue - SDF integration into the Syrian army - to ongoing negotiations.

"Some currents inside the SDF want guarantees before agreeing to merge, especially after what happened in the coastal region and Suweida," he said.

Key questions remain unresolved, including whether the SDF would remain a distinct force or be absorbed fully into the Syrian military structure. No clear framework has yet been agreed.

On the ground, the picture remains mixed. Despite the diplomatic rhetoric, the SDF continues to build new fortifications in the eastern Aleppo countryside - actions that appear at odds with claims of de-escalation and cooperation.

In Suweida, Qutaiba Shahab al-Deen, a leader of the local Forces of the Sheikhs of Dignity, alleged that the SDF had provided support to the Suweida Military Council, which is backed by Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri.

He accused the SDF of trying "to obstruct Suweida's reintegration into the Syrian state," suggesting it had a hand in exacerbating tensions with Damascus. However, there is no evidence to back up al-Deen's claims. 

Meanwhile, the SDF continues courting tribal leaders in Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor in a bid to shore up support for its self-administration project - despite quietly dropping the term from public messaging.

Analysts believe the SDF fears that a second Trump administration might "turn a blind eye" to a limited Turkish military operation targeting its leadership.

Such concerns may push the group to seek deeper concessions with Damascus to avoid losses in any future military confrontation with the budding alliance between Turkey and the Syrian government.