Saturday 20/December/2025 – 11:18 AM
The Turkish Defense Minister said on Saturday that the SDF must be integrated into the Syrian army, commenting: We understand the Syrian government’s position on this issue.
Turkey announced earlier that the Syrian Democratic Forces – SDF – have no alternative to implementing the March 10 agreement, which stipulates their integration into the Syrian army, accusing Israel of encouraging it to procrastinate in implementing the agreement through its movements in Syria.
Türkiye and Syria
The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated, in a statement, that the SDF, whose backbone is the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), is acting in violation of the agreement signed in Damascus between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi.
It confirmed that Ankara considers the People’s Protection Units an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it classifies as a terrorist organization.
Ministry spokesman Zaki Akturk explained that the continuation of SDF activities, instead of merging in accordance with the March 10 agreement, undermines stability and security in Syria, stressing the need for SDF members to join the Syrian army as individuals, not as an independent bloc.
Akturk accused countries that he did not name of encouraging the SDF, through actions and rhetoric, to refuse integration and disarmament, describing these efforts as futile attempts to buy time.
He added that Turkish forces destroyed 732 kilometers of SDF tunnels in the areas of operations in northern and northeastern Syria, including four kilometers in the city of Manbij.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, for his part, linked the SDF’s reluctance to implement the March 10 agreement to Israeli movements in Syria.
Fidan said that the SDF will reach an understanding with Damascus regarding the merger on the day when Israel finds common ground with Syria, considering that the SDF’s position does not stem from its decision alone, but is influenced by Israel.
He stressed that the agreement initially enjoyed the support of Türkiye, the United States, and Syria, but progress was hampered by the failure of the People’s Protection Units and the SDF to take the steps required to implement it.
