Turkey says SDF must prove commitment to integration deal with Damascus
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should demonstrate that they are committed to the March agreement with Damascus regarding its integration into the interim government's security apparatus, Turkish state media cited Ankara's defense sources as saying.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a landmark agreement on March 10 concerning the future of the SDF and the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava). While parts of the agreement have already been implemented, key provisions - such as the integration of the US-backed SDF into Syrian state forces - continue to face significant obstacles.
'The SDF terrorist organization must concretely demonstrate that it is complying with the agreement it made with the Damascus government. Developments regarding this issue are being closely monitored together with our relevant institutions,' Turkish national defence sources told journalists during a weekly press briefing, reported Turkey's state-run TRT Haber on Wednesday.
Ankara has endorsed the March 10 agreement but has repeatedly called on the SDF to abide by it.
Middle East Eye reported on Monday that the US and Turkey have given the SDF a 30-day ultimatum to integrate into Damascus forces. However, the SDF denied the claim.
An SDF spokesperson told the Saudi-based Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that they do refuse to lay down arms for now.
'We can join the Syrian army through a constitutional and legal agreement that recognizes the specificity of our forces,' Abjar Dawoud said, adding that they refuse to 'surrender' weapons 'in light of the increase in the pace of violence' in southern Syria - where days of recent clashes left nearly 1,300 people dead, according to a war monitor.
He stressed it is 'impossible' for the SDF to hand over its weapons while the Islamic State (ISIS) continues to pose a threat to northeast Syria.
The SDF is the de facto army of Rojava.
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