The Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said that recent meetings between delegations from the Autonomous Administration and officials in Damascus resulted in a “preliminary agreement” on several issues, including a comprehensive ceasefire and the continuation of high-level dialogue.

In remarks to the Kurdish “Ronahi” TV channel, which is close to the SDF, on Saturday, October 11, Abdi said he met separately in Damascus with the Minister of Defense and the head of the intelligence service, noting that there was “an understanding on the principle of decentralization” in governance, with ongoing discussions about the interpretation of related terms.

He explained that both sides reached a verbal understanding on integrating the SDF into the Syrian army, adding that Damascus expressed interest in benefiting from the SDF’s expertise. A military committee that includes representatives from the Internal Security Forces will soon head to Damascus to follow up on the details of this file.

Abdi pointed out that there is also “a military and security understanding under discussion,” and that Washington has proposed forming a joint force between the SDF and the Syrian army to fight the Islamic State (ISIS). He confirmed acceptance of the U.S. proposal “to ensure that the fight against the group has a comprehensive national character.”

Regarding the political aspect, Abdi said ongoing understandings aim to include the terms of the “March 10 Agreement” in the new Syrian constitution, indicating that upcoming meetings will be held in Damascus to discuss constitutional amendments.

He also affirmed that the files of Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and al-Hasakah are “linked to the structure of Syria’s future governance,” stressing that withdrawal from these areas is “non-negotiable.” Abdi noted that representatives from Raqqa and Deir Ezzor will participate in the next round of meetings between the two sides.

On the return issue, Abdi called on the residents of Afrin, Ras al-Ain, and Tal Abyad to prepare to return to their homes within the framework of broader understandings. He added that the International Coalition and Washington are interested in the issue of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo, and that the April 1 agreement regarding these neighborhoods “must be implemented in practice.”

Abdi concluded by stressing that the discussions with Damascus focus on “a comprehensive Syrian-Syrian solution,” adding that channels of communication with Turkey “remain open.” He said, “As long as Turkey wants to implement the agreement with Damascus, it can support it.”

Meeting between al-Sharaa and Abdi

The Syrian president during the transitional phase, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the SDF commander, Mazloum Abdi, held a meeting in Damascus on October 7.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), two sources said that the meeting was attended by U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Burke and Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Brad Cooper.

The Autonomous Administration’s delegation, according to the pro-Administration Hawar News Agency, included Abdi and SDF leaders Ilham Ahmed and Rohilat Afrin.

The Syrian Defense Minister, Marhaf Abu Qasra, said in a post on X that he met with Abdi in Damascus and agreed on “a comprehensive ceasefire across all axes and military deployment points in northern and northeastern Syria,” with “immediate implementation,” according to Abu Qasra.

What did the two sides discuss?

The Autonomous Administration announced preliminary results of the meetings held between the SDF delegation and representatives of the government in Damascus, addressing constitutional, security, and humanitarian files aimed at strengthening stability and building peace in Syria.

On October 7, the “Communications of North and East Syria” account on X stated that the two parties discussed amending the constitution, describing this point as “of utmost importance, as the constitution of any country must represent all its inhabitants and protect every individual.”

They also discussed the principle of integrating the SDF and Internal Security Forces within a unified national framework, which the delegation described as a step toward forming “an organized and effective army that serves to protect all Syrians.”

The delegation also called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in northeastern Syria and Aleppo, stressing the need for “all Syrians to live in a safe country.”

The account explained that the talks also addressed the issue of displaced persons’ return and mechanisms for combating terrorism, noting that these files are “key issues to ensure stability and lasting peace in Syria.”

No official document has yet been signed between the two sides, according to the delegation’s account on X.

The delegation expressed its gratitude to the French Foreign Ministry, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and the U.S. Embassy in Turkey for their support and efforts in facilitating the dialogue, affirming that these parties “actively contributed to bridging the gap between all sides.”

These meetings come amid growing talk of new political arrangements in Syria and attempts to bring the positions of the government and the Autonomous Administration closer, following days of field tension between the two sides in Aleppo.

War drums beat in eastern Syria