Erdogan welcomes Syria-SDF agreement, urges full implementation
Turkey has welcomed the agreement as key to domestic peace efforts with the outlawed Kurdish militants.
ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday welcomed an agreement that paves the way for the full integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state.
Details: Speaking in a televised address after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan praised recent gains by Syrian government forces. “The Syrian army has passed a successful test,” he said.
He was referring to the forces' rapid advances across large areas of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, where they seized border crossings, oil and gas fields, and administrative centers. The offensive culminated Sunday in a ceasefire agreement that provides for the comprehensive integration of the SDF into Syrian state institutions.
Under the new deal, the Kurdish-led group commits to withdrawing its combat units east of the Euphrates, handing over Raqqa and Deir Ezzor to Damascus, and transferring civilian institutions in Hasakah to central government structures. The agreement also provides for vetting and integrating SDF fighters into the defense and interior ministries, transfers control of border crossings and oil and gas fields to the state, and establishes a consensus-based governor for Hasakah.
