Syrian Kurdish official says YPG-SDF to announce dissolution within days
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The YPG-SDF will announce its dissolution within days as nearly all obstacles to integration with the Syrian army and government have been resolved, Mahmoud Berkhodan, a senior commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Kobani, said on Sunday.
Speaking to Turkish newspaper, Berkhodan said 99 percent of the outstanding issues related to integration had been overcome, adding that the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) structure would also be dismantled.
“Within the next few days, we will announce the dissolution of the YPG-SDF. The AANES structure will also disappear,” Berkhodan said. “We will build the new Syria hand in hand within the framework of one army, one state, one flag and a common homeland.”
He added that the developments in Syria could not be viewed separately from Turkey’s “Terror-Free Turkey” process, referring to Ankara’s efforts to end the decades-long conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The commander praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli for their role in the process, saying their efforts could have a significant impact on the changing geopolitics of the Middle East.
Berkhodan indicated that steps including the transfer of public institutions and oil fields were also nearing completion alongside military integration.
He described the developments as part of efforts to establish a framework for coexistence in Syria, saying Kurds should remain part of the country within a unified state and army.
Berkhodan pointed out that Syrian Kurds were not seeking a separate state and had never called for establishing an independent state in Syria.
“Our demand is not for a separate state (Kurdistan). In fact, we never said that we would establish a separate state in Syria,” he said, rejecting suggestions that Kobani could become an independent entity.
He said that Syrian Kurds were deeply rooted across the country and formed an integral part of Syrian society through their language, religion and culture.
Berkhodan also called for the removal of barriers separating Kurds in Syria and Turkey, saying the two communities had been divided by historical borders.
He recalled the displacement of Kobani’s population to Turkey following the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on the city, saying Syrian Kurds would not forget the reception they received there.
“There were mistakes during the past 15 years, but we have left all of them behind. We now have to talk about peace, unity and building our common future,” he noted.
He acknowledged that challenges remained but said he believed the process would ultimately lead to a peaceful outcome.