The authorities of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan have shown their support for the announcement of the dissolution of the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), considering it "a fundamental advance" to bolster security and stability in Syria.
The regional president, Nechirvan Barzani, emphasized in a message disseminated on social media: "I celebrate the important progress made in the integration of the SDF with the forces of the Syrian government, as well as the measures taken to implement the agreements signed between them."
Barzani insisted that "I consider this to be a fundamental advance for strengthening the security and stability of Syria," and urged "all Kurdish parties and all sectors of Syrian society" to "support these measures and contribute to their success."
The Kurdish leader also praised the "wise vision" of the Syrian president, Ahmed al Shara, whom he recognized for "his responsible approach" to "addressing issues through dialogue and understanding," while highlighting the role played by the head of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, in ensuring "the success of this process."
In his message, Barzani remarked: "We look forward to the conclusion of this process, which will mark the beginning of a new stage in Syria, in which the rights of all its citizens and communities will be protected, and which will lead the country towards greater peace, security, stability, recovery, and prosperity."
The disappearance of the SDF as an armed structure was communicated on Tuesday by Abdi, within the framework of the integration agreement signed at the end of January with Al Shara. The Kurdish official defended the measure in light of the "historic moment" the country is going through and stated: "We close an important chapter in the history of Syria and begin to write a new one, whose motto is peace, stability, and the reconstruction of the homeland."
The integration pact, sponsored by the United States, was signed on January 29 by Al Shara and Abdi after several days of fighting resulting from a new offensive by security forces against Kurdish formations in the north and northeast of the country.
This file was one of the most delicate due to the discrepancies regarding the way to execute the integration, in a context of pressures from Washington on Damascus and the demand of the Syrian government to reaffirm its control over all the territory and avoid any formula of autonomy under Kurdish administration.