Joudi Barjam

Kobani — The March 10 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Interim Government in Damascus is based on eight main points. Its core emphasizes enhancing democratic integration between the regions of northern and eastern Syria and the Interim Government, in political, military, and administrative aspects. It also aims to build a decentralized and democratic Syrian state, where the rights of all components are preserved without discrimination, ensuring everyone’s participation in shaping a more stable and just shared future.

Since March 10, 2025, until today, the Syrian Interim Government has shown no progress beyond the integration of the SDF, reflecting that the agreement has been limited to military aspects only. In this context, Felek Yousef, co-chair of the Social Affairs Committee in the Autonomous Administration of the Euphrates region in northern and eastern Syria, evaluated the political situation in the region.

 

March Agreement and Renewed Hopes for a Democratic State

Felek Yousef began by recalling the events of recent months: “On March 10 this year, an agreement was signed between Mr. Mazloum Abdi and the head of the Syrian Interim Government. But before this agreement, it is important to recall what happened. After the fall of the former Syrian regime last January, the Syrian people’s hopes were renewed, and there was tangible progress toward building a new Syrian state.”

She explained that after many years of domination by the regime and armed groups serving internal and external interests, the Syrian people were deprived of the right to live a normal life. She pointed out that with the formation of the Interim Government, attacks targeted members of the Alawite community in the Syrian coast: “The Alawites were subjected to mass massacres, which opened the door to a sectarian war in the country, turning attacks into large-scale operations.”

She highlighted the situation in northern and eastern Syria: “For many years, the SDF has protected all components, providing them with a safer and more stable life. It also succeeded in liberating many cities from the grip of ISIS and continued to defend the population, encouraging various components in northern and eastern Syria to join its ranks and form a joint force. At the same time, the Women’s Protection Units play a crucial role in defending women across various areas. Therefore, our region serves as a prominent model to be emulated.”

 

“Focus on Integration and Ignoring the Core of the Agreement”

Felek Yousef stated that “from the government’s side, the focus is only on the issue of integration,” explaining: “Regarding the integration of the SDF into the new Syrian army, the agreement was originally signed to stop massacres targeting the Alawite community. It also included numerous provisions related to guaranteeing rights and status for the components of northern and eastern Syria and building a democratic Syrian state based on equality and other principles. But what we see since then is that the government focuses only on integration while ignoring the essential provisions.”

She raised a key question: “Is there actually a ready army in Syria?” She added: “We may join the Syrian army, but the more important question is how the SDF can integrate with it, and with which party will it unite to form a new army? Everyone asks this question, and it attracts a lot of attention. Can the organized Syrian army train and protect the people? Meanwhile, the SDF has extensive experience, having received training and organization over many years, proving its presence and standards to the world. It also carries a legacy and history, and through its members, it has become a real defense force for the people. So the question remains: with whom will the SDF integrate, and given its experience, strength, and structure, is there really a ready army in Syria?”

She confirmed that the sectarian war ignited in several Syrian cities continues: “Druze, Alawites, Kurds, Shiites, and other Syrian components and ethnicities are still being attacked by jihadists of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, to the point that they cannot safely travel to other areas. This reality reveals that the Interim Government has entrenched sectarian division in Syria, making us pay the price for this crime. Under the Interim Government’s leadership, policies of fragmentation, massacres, and internal exclusion are practiced. This clearly shows that there is a project to divide Syria, and its head is trying to implement it.”

 

“SDF Integration Conditional on Building an Organized Army and Ensuring Women’s Rights”

Felek Yousef emphasized that unless an organized army is established in Syria, the conditions and standards for integration cannot be met: “The conditions presented to us are framed as if they aim to exclude and eliminate the role of the SDF in Syria. There is no doubt that Turkey plays a significant role here, as Syrian and Turkish officials discuss integration daily using terms like disarmament, exclusion, and ending the SDF’s role. But the agreement was not intended to weaken northern and eastern Syria, but to build a democratic, safe, and stable Syrian state. The Syrian people’s calls to the SDF confirm this reality. Unfortunately, what is being practiced does not reflect this future, and so far, describing Syria as an Arab republic makes this clear.”

She concluded by stressing the role of women: “In the army or any system, when women are present, positive results appear, as is the case in northern and eastern Syria. But in areas under the control of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham jihadists, women’s identity, voices, and presence have been erased. Therefore, if integration occurs, all provisions of the March 10 agreement must be implemented. If not, as women, we will not accept integration under the current Syrian reality and army.