As the popular and military pressure on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) increases, their leader, Mazloum Abdi, expressed his readiness to establish a demilitarized zone in the city of Ain al-Arab/Kobani.
Meanwhile, a leader in the Military Operations Administration, which managed the battles to topple the regime, spoke about integrating the areas controlled by the SDF into the Damascus government, stating, “Syria will not be divided.”
Abdi said on Tuesday, December 17, via his account on “X,” “In confirmation of our firm commitment to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Syria, we announce our readiness to propose the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the city of Kobani, with the redistribution of security forces under US supervision and presence.”
This initiative, according to Abdi, aims at “addressing Turkish security concerns.”
Military and popular pressure
The SDF is facing internal popular pressure through protests against it in the cities of Raqqa and al-Hasakah, as well as military pressure through attacks by the “Dawn of Freedom” operations room, which seized the city of Manbij and other areas in the Aleppo countryside from the SDF.
In Deir Ezzor, the Military Operations Administration controlled part of the province west of the Euphrates River at the expense of the SDF on December 11, in the context of the “Deterrence of Aggression” battle.
The “Dawn of Freedom” battle was launched by the Syrian National Army (SNA) on November 30 against regime forces and the SDF to drive them out of several areas.
Abdi announced on December 11 that a “ceasefire agreement in Manbij” was reached through US mediation.
Abdi added that the fighters of the Manbij Military Council affiliated with the SDF would be withdrawn from the area as soon as possible, indicating that the goal is to achieve a ceasefire across all Syrian territories and enter a political process “for the future of the country,” according to his statement.
The “Dawn of Freedom” operations room issued a statement on December 12 declaring a ceasefire in the Manbij area and its countryside until December 16 to allow for the implementation of humanitarian and security understandings, including those related to the transfer of the tomb of Suleiman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman state, Osman I.
However, media close to the SDF reported that the ceasefire agreement failed, accusing Turkey of obstructing reaching a truce in Manbij and Ain al-Arab in eastern Aleppo.
Control over all of Syria
Statements were made by the SDF through its leader Mazloum Abdi regarding its readiness to communicate with the new authority in Damascus and the existence of an agreement with the Military Operations Administration.
However, the commander of the military wing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Murhaf Abu Qusrah, also known as “Abu Hassan al-Hamwi,” said in an interview with AFP on Tuesday that the areas controlled by the SDF “will be annexed” to the Damascus government, and “Syria will not be fragmented, nor will there be federations,” according to his expression.
Tahrir al-Sham has distanced itself from officially commenting or appearing as a military faction since the launch of the Military Operations Administration in the “Deterrence of Aggression” battle on November 27, and everything related to it falls under the work of the Military Operations Administration and the Damascus government.
On December 12, Abdi spoke about the existence of an agreement between his forces and Tahrir al-Sham concerning the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Aleppo.
The SDF is working on “preparing the atmosphere to send a delegation to Damascus for talks,” according to Abdi.
Two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Abdi expressed his willingness to communicate with the new authority in Damascus, emphasizing the importance of representing all regions and components through dialogue.
Abdi stated, “Our relationship will be with the central government in Damascus,” indicating that there is communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham through the Americans.