Syria
An Islamic black-and-white flag bearing the Shahada (the creed stating a belief in one god and the acceptance that Mohammed was God's prophet) flies from a tank used by fighters loyal to the interim Syrian government while deployed in the Zahra district of Syria's west-central city of Homs on January 4, 2025. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Any proposal related to federalism or decentralization is a “red line” for Syria’s unity and stability and will be rejected by the new administration, a military leader in the new Syrian administration said on Sunday, opposing calls from the country’s ethnic groups.
“We will not allow any federalism or any decentralized rule, and legitimize any solution based on ethnic, racial, or religious dimensions. This is a red line for all Syrians, and we hope that all other components will rise to the responsibility and contribute to building their country,” Ahmed al-Dalati, a leader in Syria’s Military Operations Command and deputy commander-in-chief of Ahrar al-Sham, told Rudaw’s Nalin Hassan.
While accusing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of being linked to “external agendas,” Dalati said that the SDF has yet to deliver a favorable position on the formation of the new Syrian administration and must first reconsider its goals.
“We told them: End your connection to foreign agendas and abandon calls for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state or a federal government. These political are a red line for all Syrians and threaten regional security,” he stated about their demands to the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava).
He defended the opposition to federalism by Damascus under the pretext that it would encourage sedition and cause foreign powers to interfere in Syrian affairs.
“They will have the same rights as any Syrian, and they will have the same duties as any Syrian through law, and through the constitution that will be discussed and approved by the Syrian people,” Dalati said about Syrian Kurds.
But many Syrians and foreign powers are worried that the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) may impose strict Islamic rule and threaten minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites.
After a coalition led by HTS overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime, they formed a transitional government headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani) who has repeatedly stated that the rights of all components will be protected under the new government.
The SDF have expressed its readiness to be merged into Syria’s new security apparatus.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a recent interview that they are willing to merge the SDF into the new Syrian army if both sides agree on a “suitable formula through negotiations.”
Sharaa and a top SDF delegation met last week to discuss the future of their relations and Rojava.
On Wednesday, Druze militias in the southern Suwayda province forced a HTS-led military convoy to return back to Damascus without entering the province. The Druze defended their actions on a lack of prior coordination.
“We will not allow any federalism or any decentralized rule, and legitimize any solution based on ethnic, racial, or religious dimensions. This is a red line for all Syrians, and we hope that all other components will rise to the responsibility and contribute to building their country,” Ahmed al-Dalati, a leader in Syria’s Military Operations Command and deputy commander-in-chief of Ahrar al-Sham, told Rudaw’s Nalin Hassan.
While accusing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of being linked to “external agendas,” Dalati said that the SDF has yet to deliver a favorable position on the formation of the new Syrian administration and must first reconsider its goals.
“We told them: End your connection to foreign agendas and abandon calls for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state or a federal government. These political are a red line for all Syrians and threaten regional security,” he stated about their demands to the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava).
He defended the opposition to federalism by Damascus under the pretext that it would encourage sedition and cause foreign powers to interfere in Syrian affairs.
“They will have the same rights as any Syrian, and they will have the same duties as any Syrian through law, and through the constitution that will be discussed and approved by the Syrian people,” Dalati said about Syrian Kurds.
But many Syrians and foreign powers are worried that the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) may impose strict Islamic rule and threaten minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites.
After a coalition led by HTS overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime, they formed a transitional government headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani) who has repeatedly stated that the rights of all components will be protected under the new government.
The SDF have expressed its readiness to be merged into Syria’s new security apparatus.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a recent interview that they are willing to merge the SDF into the new Syrian army if both sides agree on a “suitable formula through negotiations.”
Sharaa and a top SDF delegation met last week to discuss the future of their relations and Rojava.
On Wednesday, Druze militias in the southern Suwayda province forced a HTS-led military convoy to return back to Damascus without entering the province. The Druze defended their actions on a lack of prior coordination.
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