SDF commander criticizes Damascus stance in latest negotiation round
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – SDF Commander Sipan Hamo criticized on Tuesday the Syrian transitional government’s stance during the latest round of negotiations in Damascus, describing the administration as intransigent and unresponsive to core issues.
In an interview with the Turkish Pro-Kurdish Yeni Özgür Politika newspaper, Hamo said that while the talks were conducted with hope and a desire for resolution, no agreement could be reached on fundamental matters, including governance, democratic principles, and the creation of shared institutions.
“They want to recreate a version of the old regime,” Hamo, a senior member of the SDF delegation led by Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi, added. “We cannot converge on any basic matter. The only positive outcome of the meeting was the decision to continue talks.”
The SDF commander criticized the Damascus delegation as “reserved and rigid,” linking its approach to efforts to comply with Turkish demands.
He stressed that the SDF’s weapons are for defensive purposes, aimed at protecting civilians, and reaffirmed the SDF’s commitment to women’s rights and the Women Protection Units (YPJ), alongside guarantees for the Druze and Alawite communities.
“We want a solution,” he said. “We want a democratic Syria in which we all take part.”
The SDF and the Syrian transitional government signed the March 10, 2025 agreement, aimed at integrating SDF-administered areas into state institutions while preserving local governance and security structures.
Since then, multiple negotiation rounds in Damascus and mediated sessions in Damascus, Paris, and regional hubs have sought to implement the agreement, focusing on military integration, local administration, and security coordination.
Persistent disagreements remain over the presence of foreign forces, the role of Turkey, minority protections, and the pace of political and military integration, which has slowed the agreement’s full implementation.