Syria’s New Leaders Reach Agreement with Rebel Groups, Exclude US-Backed Kurdish Forces

Rebel Groups to Dissolve and Integrate under Defense Ministry

Syria’s new leaders have announced that they have reached an agreement with the country’s rebel groups on their dissolution and integration under the defense ministry. The meeting between the rebel groups and Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa “ended in an agreement on the dissolution of all the groups and their integration under the supervision of the ministry of defence”, said a statement carried by the SANA news agency and the authorities’ Telegram account.

US-Backed Kurdish Forces Absent from Meeting

Absent from the meeting were representatives of the US-backed, Kurdish-led forces that control swathes of Syria’s northeast. The meeting comes just over two weeks after president Bashar al-Assad fled Syria, following a lightning offensive spearheaded by Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

New Authorities Vow to Prevent Weapons Outside State Control

On Sunday, Sharaa had said the new authorities would “absolutely not allow there to be weapons in the country outside state control”. That also applied to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), he said. Last week, the military chief of HTS told AFP that Kurdish-held areas would be integrated under the new leadership, and that “Syria will not be divided”.

Thirteen Years of Civil War Have Left Deep Divisions

Thirteen years of civil war in Syria has left more than half a million people dead and fragmented the country into zones of influence controlled by different armed groups backed by regional and international powers.

Kurdish-Led Forces Express Willingness to Integrate

SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told AFP the question of his group’s integration into the national armed forces “should be discussed directly”. He did not dismiss the possibility, saying that doing so would strengthen “the whole of Syria”. Shami added that his forces prefer “dialogue with Damascus to resolve all questions”.

Turkey’s Economic Leverage

Turkey has long held ties with HTS, and analysts say that since the Islamists took over Syria, both sides have sought to profit from the relationship. Ankara accuses the People’s Protection Units (YPG) — the main component of the SDF — of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil.

Iran Warned Against “Propagating Chaos” in Syria

Meanwhile, Syria’s new foreign minister Assaad Hassan al-Shibani took to X Tuesday evening to warn Iran against “propagating chaos” in Syria and called on it to respect Syrian sovereignty. On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry had said it had not any direct contact with Syria’s new leaders but called on them to not ley Syria “become a refuge for terrorism”, though it did also call to “preserve the sovereignty and integrity” of the country.

Conclusion

The agreement between Syria’s new leaders and rebel groups marks a significant step towards reconciliation and stability in the war-torn country. However, the exclusion of US-backed Kurdish forces from the meeting raises concerns about the future of the region and the role of international powers in the conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the significance of the agreement between Syria’s new leaders and rebel groups?
A: The agreement marks a significant step towards reconciliation and stability in Syria, as it paves the way for the dissolution and integration of rebel groups under the defense ministry.

Q: Why were US-backed Kurdish forces absent from the meeting?
A: The reasons for the absence of US-backed Kurdish forces from the meeting are unclear, but it may be due to the fact that they were not invited or chose not to participate.

Q: What is Turkey’s role in the conflict?
A: Turkey has long held ties with HTS and has accused the SDF of being affiliated with the PKK. Ankara has also launched military operations against the SDF in northern Syria.

Q: What is the significance of Iran’s warning against “propagating chaos” in Syria?
A: Iran’s warning highlights the country’s concerns about the stability of the region and its opposition to any attempts to destabilize Syria.