The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian caretaker government convened their second meeting in al-Hasakah (Hesekê) on Saturday, three weeks after their initial talks. The meeting focused on implementing an eight-point agreement, finalised on 19 March 2025, to promote peace across Syria.
The agreement commits to constitutional protections for Kurds, including citizenship and political participation, while integrating the SDF into Syria’s national armed forces and merging institutions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) into a unified government structure.
However, the specifics of these rights, such as the degree of regional autonomy or detailed legal safeguards, remain uncertain and hinge on future negotiations, particularly regarding Syria’s new constitution.
The SDF and Kurdish leaders advocate for a federal system to preserve local governance, a stance that conflicts with the interim government’s preference for centralisation.
SDF General Commanders Mazloum Abdi and Rohilat Afrin led their delegation, meeting Damascus representatives former governor of Deir ez-Zor (Dêrazor) Hussein al-Salama, and Muhammad Qanatri. The discussions highlighted the importance of protecting the Tishreen Dam from attacks by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), ensuring national security against direct Turkish aggression, as well as the task of assisting internally displaced people, particularly those from Afrin (Efrîn), to return home safely. Following the meeting, a military convoy of security forces arrived at the Tishreen Dam from Damascus, and on Saturday, a delegation from the International Coalition Forces joined them there to support these efforts.
The meeting also announced a committee to represent North and East Syria in dialogue with Damascus, comprising Foza Yûsif, Ebid Hamid El Mihbaş, Ehmed Yûsif, Senherîb Bersûm and Sozdar Hacî, with Meryem Îbrahîm and Yasir Silêman as spokespersons. .
