Syria and SDF Agree to Unify Institutions
The Syrian interim government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which oversee a significant portion of Syria's oil-rich northeast, announced on Monday an agreement to integrate all civil and military institutions in the Kurdish-controlled area into state institutions, as reported by state news agency SANA.

This integration encompasses institutions responsible for managing border crossings, airports, as well as oil and gas fields. According to SANA, the agreement was finalized during a meeting earlier that day between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF's top commander, Mazloum Abdi.
Additionally, the accord includes measures to ensure the rights of all Syrians, official recognition of the Kurdish community as a vital component of Syria, a nationwide ceasefire, and protections for displaced Syrians wishing to return, as detailed by SANA.
"The executive committees will work to fully implement the agreement by the end of this year," SANA reported, referencing a joint statement issued by both the interim government and the SDF.
Images captured the moment Al-Sharaa and Abdi shook hands in Damascus to seal the agreement, which facilitates the integration of SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the state framework.
This accord emerges during a pivotal time as Al-Sharaa contends with the repercussions of mass killings of Alawite minority members in western Syria—an act of violence he stated on Monday poses a threat to his initiative to unify the nation after 14 years of conflict.
In his initial official remarks following the signing of the accord, Abdi expressed via a post on X that the agreement symbolizes a "real opportunity to build a new Syria." He emphasized that the SDF aims to collaborate with the Syrian administration during "such a critical period" to establish a transitional phase that aligns with the aspirations of the Syrian people for justice and stability.
While the agreement stipulates implementation by the year's conclusion, it does not clarify how the SDF's military operations will be absorbed into Syria's defense ministry, which has been a contentious issue in negotiations to date.
No immediate reaction to the agreement has been provided from Türkiye, a close ally of Al-Sharaa.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News