The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced the raising of the flag of the Syrian revolution over all councils, institutions, administrations, and facilities affiliated with it in its controlled areas.

AANES stated in a statement today, Thursday, December 12, that its decision came on the occasion of the “end of the era of oppression and tyranny” imposed by the Syrian regime on the people for more than half a century.

It added that amidst what it described as a “historic transformation,” the flag of independence (the Syrian revolution’s flag) with its three colors: green, white, and black, along with the three red stars, comes as a symbol of a new phase.

It pointed out that this flag expresses the aspirations of the Syrian people towards freedom, dignity, and national unity.

AANES also stated that it is committed to representing the aspirations of the Syrian people and all its components, and to working on strengthening national unity within the framework of a democratic Syria based on the principles of justice and equality among all its components.

Last Tuesday, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi (the military wing of AANES), expressed readiness to communicate with the new authority in Damascus, emphasizing the necessity of representing all regions and components through dialogue.

Syrian opposition factions took over the reins of power in Syria after a military operation that began on November 27 and ended with the overthrow of the regime on December 8.

Abdi stated in remarks to the Saudi Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath channel that “our relationship will be with the central government in Damascus.”

He added that there is ongoing communication with Turkey through the Americans aimed at reducing escalation, pointing out that there is also communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) through the Americans.

AANES had previously stated in the principles section of the Social Contract it issued at the end of last year, that it has its own flag, which is raised alongside the flag of the Democratic Republic of Syria.”

It also stated in the same contract that it is an integral part of Syria and constitutes a basis for building a “democratic Syria.”

Over the past years, AANES has positioned itself as a third party in the Syrian political landscape, as it did not present itself as either a supporter or an opponent of the Syrian regime, nor did it align with the Syrian opposition, opposing part of it.

In various incidents, AANES has prevented the raising of the flag of the Syrian revolution in its controlled areas, but allowed it on other occasions during celebrations of the anniversary of the outbreak of the Syrian revolution.

The SDF (AANES’ military wing) includes military factions that were part of the former Free Syrian Army (FSA) and adopts the flag of the Syrian revolution as its banner.