The dissolved Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have begun handing over heavy weapons and equipment to the Syrian Ministry of Defense in al-Hasakah governorate (northeastern Syria), as part of measures to complete the integration of military and security institutions and formations in the governorate.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in al-Hasakah said on Thursday, September 3, that the SDF had begun handing over heavy weapons to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, while the ministry sent heavy vehicles and transporters to the governorate to move the weapons and equipment being transferred.

According to the correspondent, the transferred equipment included armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, Russian-made Ural trucks used to transport equipment, BTR armored personnel carriers, and US-made Humvees.

The correspondent said vehicles believed to belong to the Military Police took part in loading equipment from sites around al-Sabbagh roundabout and al-Talaea Camp, while other vehicles were moved on heavy equipment transporters near Panorama roundabout.

Earlier Entry of Internal Security Forces

The transfer of equipment follows the entry of Syrian Internal Security forces into al-Hasakah city on Tuesday, September 1, where they began taking up positions as part of arrangements to complete the integration of military and security institutions.

A convoy of Syrian Internal Security forces had entered al-Hasakah and stationed itself at al-Talaea Camp near the city’s eastern entrance. The convoy included vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Interior’s Special Tasks Forces.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent said at the time that the forces had arrived in the city to assume their positions as part of ongoing security arrangements to complete the integration of military and security institutions and bodies in the governorate.

Before the forces entered the city, a delegation from the Military Police command arrived in al-Hasakah on Monday evening and met al-Hasakah Governor Nour al-Din Ahmad Issa to discuss procedures for completing the integration of military and security institutions and mechanisms for coordination among the relevant authorities.

The al-Hasakah Governorate said through its official account that the meeting addressed the procedures and steps required to complete the integration of military and security institutions and bodies, as well as efforts to strengthen coordination and unify working mechanisms in the governorate.

These developments come as the security and military situation in al-Hasakah continues to be reorganized following field and administrative changes in recent months that reshaped the map of territorial control in the governorate.

“Imposing Government Control”

An informed source told Enab Baladi on August 16 that the Syrian government was preparing to impose full security control over al-Hasakah city in order to restart government institutions and schools and end what the source described as administrative duality, disorder, and insecurity.

The source said the arrangements followed disturbances in al-Hasakah governorate during the first organized return trip for displaced people from Ras al-Ain to their areas. The source added that the security measures were intended to prevent similar incidents and create suitable conditions for restoring the operation of government and public service institutions.

According to the source, the return of displaced people is linked to the stability of the security and administrative situation in the governorate, as return operations require a safe and stable environment and measures to prevent security incidents that could obstruct residents from returning to their areas of origin.

Institutional Integration Process

The handover of heavy weapons is part of a process that began early this year following major field changes in al-Hasakah governorate.

At the beginning of 2026, the Syrian army took control of large areas of the southern and eastern countryside and parts of western al-Hasakah governorate, while the SDF withdrew to major cities, including al-Hasakah and Qamishli.

The change in the map of territorial control resulted in the continued presence of more than one military, security, and administrative authority in the governorate, before the Syrian government and the SDF began implementing understandings to integrate institutions affiliated with the Autonomous Administration into state institutions.

On January 29, the Syrian government and the SDF agreed to begin integrating military, security, and public service institutions in the governorate into government ministry structures. Implementation of the agreement began gradually in February.

The integration measures included civilian, military, and security institutions, while arrangements continued to unify administrative and security operations in areas formerly controlled by the SDF.

On August 25, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced the dissolution of the SDF and its affiliated formations, a step that came as part of the understandings reached with the Syrian government.

Two days after the announcement, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on August 27 appointing Abdi as an adviser at the Presidency of the Republic.

The start of the heavy weapons handover to the Ministry of Defense and the entry of Internal Security forces into al-Hasakah follow these developments as measures continue to reorganize military and security institutions in the governorate.