SDF Forms Committee to Lead Negotiations with Syrian Government Amid Renewed Political Engagement
By Kardo Roj
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced Saturday the formation of a representative committee tasked with leading formal dialogue between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government. The move marks a pivotal step in the evolving political landscape of the country’s northeast, following recent security de-escalation efforts and a renewed push to address the legacy of displacement caused by years of conflict.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting in Hasakah between SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi, senior SDF figure Rohilat Afrin, and Hussein Salameh, head of the Syrian government’s committee tasked with implementing the emerging agreement between Damascus and the SDF.
In a statement released via the SDF’s media center, the leadership underscored the importance of consolidating ceasefire mechanisms and securing key infrastructure zones—particularly the recently demilitarized Tishrin Dam region.
The newly formed committee will represent communities in northeast Syria during direct talks with Damascus. The dialogue aims to finalize pending elements of an emerging agreement that seeks to prevent future escalations and create pathways for reintegrating displaced populations.
“The meeting focused on completing the terms of the agreement, including continued de-escalation and neutralizing areas such as the Tishrin Dam from military conflict,” the SDF statement read. Discussions also included developing a mechanism for the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians across all regions.
According to the statement, the committee will soon begin its official mandate. Members include Faouza Youssef, Abdul Hamid al-Mahbash, Ahmad Youssef, Sanharib Barsoum, and Sozdar Haji. The committee’s official spokespeople are Maryam Ibrahim and Yasser Suleiman—both respected public figures from the region with experience in governance and humanitarian affairs.
The announcement comes amid significant developments across the Syrian conflict map. In recent weeks, northeast Syria has seen increased coordination between the AANES, Damascus, and international actors—particularly the United States—on stabilizing critical infrastructure and reducing front-line tensions.
Notably, the Tishrin Dam, a strategic hydroelectric facility on the Euphrates River, was at the center of a U.S.-backed negotiation process that resulted in a tripartite security arrangement. The agreement, reached between the AANES, the Syrian government, and Turkish intermediaries, involved the withdrawal of Turkish-backed factions west of the dam and a shift to administrative control by local civilian and security bodies.
These developments reflect broader geopolitical shifts in Syria, where de-escalation and practical cooperation are increasingly seen as essential to long-term stabilization.
The issue of displacement remains one of the most sensitive and unresolved aspects of the Syrian crisis. AANES officials have repeatedly emphasized the need for safe, voluntary, and rights-based returns of displaced persons, especially those forced to flee from Turkish military incursions and associated hostilities.
The new committee is expected to prioritize this issue, leveraging its position in the ongoing dialogue to advocate for durable solutions that reflect both the demographic and political realities of northeast Syria.
While the talks do not represent a full political resolution between the AANES and Damascus, observers view them as a necessary platform for confidence-building and governance coordination—particularly in regions liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS) and secured by the SDF.
The formation of the committee signals a growing institutional maturity within the AANES and reflects the SDF’s ongoing commitment to political engagement as a complement to its security role. In recent years, the SDF has emerged as a key stabilizing force in the region, maintaining a precarious balance between local governance, counterterrorism operations, and regional diplomacy.
As the committee prepares to begin its formal negotiations, questions remain over the scope of any agreement with Damascus and its long-term implications. However, the current trajectory suggests a measured shift toward dialogue over confrontation, with the AANES and its allies seeking to entrench stability and preserve gains made in the post-ISIS era.
The success of the talks will likely hinge on mutual concessions and international guarantees, but for the millions residing in northeast Syria, the formation of a representative committee offers a cautious sign of hope in an otherwise protracted conflict.