Damascus Extends Reach: Syrian Forces Enter Kurdish Strongholds Under Integration Pact

In a pivotal move to consolidate state authority, Syrian government security personnel entered the Kurdish-held city of Hasakeh on Monday, following a comprehensive integration agreement reached last week. The deployment, confirmed by AFP correspondents on the ground, signals a major shift in the balance of power in Syria's northeast, a region long under Kurdish autonomous control.

The agreement, finalized on Friday, outlines a framework for the gradual integration of Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state apparatus. This comes after weeks of Kurdish forces ceding territory to advancing government troops, easing months of sporadic tensions and clashes. For the Kurdish administration, which carved out de facto autonomy while leading the fight against the Islamic State group, the deal represents a substantial concession of their hard-won self-rule.

"The state forces must carry out their tasks according to the established plans and fully comply with laws and regulations," stated Marwan al-Ali, the government's recently appointed head of internal security for Hasakeh province, as convoys rolled into the city. Residents lined the streets, some waving Syrian flags in welcome, while armed Kurdish personnel stood watch at checkpoints. A curfew remained in effect until evening.

The deal's implementation extended beyond Hasakeh. By late Monday, state media reported government personnel had also entered the countryside around Kobane, a town over 200 kilometers away famed as a symbol of Kurdish victory against ISIS jihadists. Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), confirmed the phased rollout, noting a "limited internal security force" would enter parts of Hasakeh and Qamishli, but insisting "no military forces will enter any Kurdish city or town."

The pact has drawn sharp international reactions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key backer of Damascus and a longstanding adversary of Syrian Kurdish groups he links to separatists, issued a stark warning. He hailed the agreement as a "new chapter" but vowed anyone attempting to "sabotage" it would be "crushed." Meanwhile, the United States, whose military coalition once heavily relied on Kurdish forces against ISIS, has recently signaled a distancing, stating the core purpose of that alliance is largely over.

Beyond security, the integration deal carries significant economic and logistical implications. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa stated it includes the handover of oil fields, Qamishli airport, and key border crossings to government control within ten days. As state authority expands into the northeast, only the Druze-majority province of Sweida remains effectively outside Damascus's direct control, following a year of sectarian violence in southern regions.

The government's push for territorial unity follows pledges from Syria's Islamist authorities, who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, to protect minority groups. A United Nations aid convoy of 20 trucks reached Kobane on Monday, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian dimensions in the transitioning region.

Voices from the Ground

Amira Khalid, Political Analyst in Qamishli: "This was an inevitable recalibration. The Kurds' geopolitical isolation, with Turkey to the north and Damascus advancing, left little room for maneuver. The deal preserves some Kurdish security roles, but the dream of autonomous administration is effectively over."

David Chen, Fellow at the Regional Security Institute: "The speed of implementation is notable. It demonstrates Damascus's confidence and the Kurds' urgent need for a settlement. The critical test will be the integration of SDF brigades into state structures—will it be genuine incorporation or a slow dissolution?"

Rashid al-Hamid, Former SDF Volunteer (via social media): "This is a betrayal of every martyr who fell fighting ISIS. We did the world's dirty work, cleared the land of those monsters, and now we are forced to hand it over to the same state that oppressed us for decades. Our leadership has surrendered our future for empty promises."

Elena Moretti, UN Aid Coordinator: "Our immediate focus is ensuring humanitarian access and civilian protection during this transition. Stability is fragile. The entry of state forces must not exacerbate tensions or disrupt the delivery of essential services to communities already worn by years of conflict."