German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must be disarmed and integrated into the security structure of the government in Damascus.
Baerbock’s statement came after talks with her Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Friday, December 20.
According to Reuters, Baerbock said at a press conference that Kurdish security is necessary for a free Syria, but Turkish security concerns must also be addressed to ensure stability. “The Kurdish groups should be disarmed and integrated into the national security framework.”
The issue of the SDF was also present in discussions with the American delegation that met with the commander of the Military Operations Administration in Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani), in Damascus yesterday.
The American delegation included Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, US Ambassador Roger Carstens, and Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein. This is the first official meeting between the General Command and the United States since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and the first visit of American diplomats to Damascus since 2012.
After meeting with al-Sharaa, Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf stated in a virtual press conference attended by Enab Baladi that the conditions that had led the Kurds in northeastern Syria to defend themselves have changed significantly.
Leaf added that a ceasefire in the city of Ain al-Arab/Kobani and the organized transition of the SDF’s role are the best ways to move forward.
The American delegation emphasized the importance of inclusion and wide consultation during the transitional period in Syria.
The Military Operations Administration and the Southern Operations Room succeeded in reaching the capital, Damascus, and overthrowing the previous regime on December 8.
The commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, mentioned on Thursday that the interaction of the Military Operations Administration and its approach to dealing with essential files will determine whether Syria is heading towards stability or escalation, adding that there is a “historic opportunity” to realize the Syrian people’s dream of building a new Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.
The Military Operations Administration managed to seize part of Deir Ezzor province located west of the Euphrates River from the SDF on December 11, and the “Dawn of Freedom” Operations Room drove the SDF out of several areas in the countryside of Aleppo, including Manbij.
An attempt to alleviate tensions
The German and US statements come amid military, popular, and political pressure faced by the SDF since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8.
SDF leader Mazloum Abdi admitted on Thursday that there are foreign fighters within his forces, expressing readiness to expel them from Syrian territory if a ceasefire is achieved.
Abdi is trying to alleviate tensions with Turkey, which has long considered the SDF an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), due to the control of the Workers’ Party cadres, especially foreigners, over the SDF’s key positions.
On December 11, Abdi announced reaching a “ceasefire agreement in Manbij with American mediation.”
The US State Department had previously announced the extension of the ceasefire agreement between the SDF and the Dawn of Freedom” Operations Room affiliated with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in Manbij, eastern Aleppo, until the end of the current week.
On Tuesday, December 17, Abdi expressed readiness to propose the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Ain al-Arab, eastern Aleppo, with the redistribution of security forces under US supervision and presence.
In another interview with the British newspaper “The World,” on Thursday, Abdi called on the United States to pressure Turkey to prevent a potential attack on the city of Ain al-Arab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.
However, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that it did not agree to any ceasefire operation with the SDF in Syria.