Suwayda violence ‘complicates' SDF integration into Syria army, says official

Rudaw Net

3 days ago

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior official in northeast Syria's (Rojava) administration on Friday warned that recent violence in Suwayda has exposed the dangers of the existing military structure in the country and this 'complicates' plans for Kurdish-led forces to integrate into the national army.
'The lack of a transparent military structure' in Syria, especially following violence in Alawite regions on the coast and in the southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda, 'complicates the possibility of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into its military structure,' Elham Ahmad, foreign relations co-chair of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), was quoted as saying by Rojava's ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD).
Rojava is in talks with Damascus about integrating into federal institutions, including the armed forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is the de facto army of Rojava.
Syria's interim government is working to establish a unified army, bringing under state control and centralized command the multiple armed groups that had fought against the former regime.
The SDF wants to join the army as 'a bloc,' spokesperson Farhad Shami told Syria's Alyaum TV on Wednesday. 'Handing over weapons is a red line. It is not possible to hand over weapons.'
The Syrian government has rejected this demand, a senior source from Damascus told state-run al-Ikhbariya TV on Thursday.
The source dismissed attempts to 'use the events in Suwayda or the coast to justify refusing to align under the state's banner,' saying such arguments 'reflect blatant attempts to incite public opinion and distort the facts.'
Clashes erupted in Suwayda on July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes. Syrian state forces were deployed to the province. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, with strikes targeting Syrian state forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus. At least 1,300 people have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
A ceasefire - brokered by Washington - was announced on Saturday by US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and appears to be holding.
Ahmad warned that 'hate speech' is fueling 'sectarian conflict.'
"What has unfolded in southern Syria in recent days represents a true humanitarian catastrophe, as the struggle for power has transformed into a sectarian conflict. This is a result of the direct hate speech and incitement practiced by some media outlets, which play a dangerous role in fueling hatred and inflaming hostility toward an integral component of the Syrian people," she said.
Damascus has come under fire for its response to the clashes. Barrack said the government should be held accountable.
The European Union on Thursday condemned the violence and called for a 'transparent, credible and impartial investigation, and for all perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to be held accountable and brought to justice - including with the support of relevant international mechanisms.'
There are reports that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday for France-mediated talks with Syrian authorities. Sources later disputed the reports, citing tensions with Damascus, and suggested the meeting had been postponed.
Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged to form an 'inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity,' but he faces criticism from both domestic and international actors who say he has marginalized minority communities.
Kurdish leaders have repeatedly expressed concern over the centralization of power and the prominence of Islamic law in the transitional constitution adopted by the interim government. They have denied accusations of desiring to separate and instead call for federalism.
'The unity of Syrian territory is a foregone conclusion, and decentralization is a fundamental requirement for the autonomous administration,' said Ahmad.