ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday held their first meeting with the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, discussing the future of northeast Syria and SDF-held neighborhoods in Aleppo, an informed source told Rudaw on Tuesday.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, elaborated that the SDF delegates and Sharaa, better known with his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, discussed their security relations and the future of Rojava administration and the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo province - which are under SDF control.
An unnamed source told AFP that the meeting was "positive," adding that both sides agreed to continue such meetings "to reach future understandings."
Bassam Ishak, a representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), political wing of the SDF, in the US, confirmed the meeting, saying it "provides a guarantee to Syrians."
He told Rudaw that both sides had good coordination from the beginning of the conflict.
A coalition of rebels spearheaded by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded a blistering offensive against Bashar al-Assad’s regime late last month, toppling the regime on December 8 and ending over five decades of Baathist rule.
HTS has not clashed with the SDF and has allowed the US-backed force to remain in control of the both Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo.
Sharaa told Saudi media on Sunday that the country's new security apparatus will include "Kurdish forces in its ranks" without elaborating.
Sharaa also called Kurds an “integral part” of Syrian society but stressed that his administration will not allow the country to become a “launchpad” for Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacks.
“We are negotiating with the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] to resolve the crisis in northeast Syria,” he said.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a recent interview that they are willing to merge the SDF into the new Syrian army if both sides agree on a “suitable formula through negotiations.”
Stefan Schneck, Germany’s envoy to Syria, told Rudaw on Thursday that Berlin is ready to help Syria’s new rulers establish a unified security force that includes the SDF.
Updated at 9:18 pm
