Reuters reported from sources that Syrian, Kurdish, and American officials are striving to show progress in an agreement for integrating the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) into Syrian state institutions before the deadline at the end of the year, despite increasing frustration from the delays.
The agency explained - quoting sources it said were Syrian, Kurdish, and Western - that discussions have accelerated in recent days, amidst possibilities that achieving a major breakthrough seems unlikely.
Five sources confirmed that the Syrian government sent a proposal to the "Syrian Democratic Forces" - which includes about 50,000 fighters and controls the northeast of the country - that includes reorganizing the fighters into three main divisions and smaller brigades in exchange for some concessions on command chains and opening their territory to units of the Syrian army.
It was unclear whether the idea would go forward or not, and several sources downplayed the chances of reaching a comprehensive agreement at the last moment, stating that more talks are needed.
However, an official in the Syrian Democratic Forces said, "We are closer to an agreement more than ever before."
A Western official also said that any announcement in the coming days would be partly aimed at "saving face" and extending the deadline to maintain stability, according to Reuters.
Messages and Impatience
The sources said that Washington - which supports the current Syrian government - has transmitted messages between the parties and facilitated the talks, but it has not yet commented on the latest efforts to save the agreement.
A Syrian official said the merger deadline is "fixed and can only be extended by irreversible steps."
Turkey Warns
Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned of "losing patience," stressing that his country does not want to resort to military measures.
However, Siyhanouk Dibo - an official in the autonomous administration of north and east Syria - said that "the most reliable guarantee for the continuation of the agreement lies in its content, not in the timeframe," indicating that the implementation of all its clauses might take until mid-2026, according to Reuters.
9 Months Since the Agreement
In March, the Syrian Presidency announced the signing of an agreement that stipulates the integration of all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria within the Syrian state administration, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields.
The Syrian Presidency then added that President Ahmad al-Shar` and the commander of what is known as the "Syrian Democratic Forces," Mazloum Abdi, signed the agreement, which provides for the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces within the institutions of the Republic, and supports the Syrian state in combating the remnants of Assad and anything that threatens the security and unity of Syria.
