US Sec State Welcomes Agreement between ‘Syrian Interim Authorities’ and the SDF
“The United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate the northeast into a unified Syria,” Rubio said.
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) - Late on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement welcoming the agreement concluded on Monday between Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), America’s main partner in the fight against ISIS in Syria.
The expression of the U.S. position came somewhat belatedly, after the agreement had already received the support of a number of other concerned parties.
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Those parties include the leadership in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.
Read More: Top KDP official hails agreement between Abdi and al-Sharaa as key step toward stability
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However, Iran, which was closely aligned with the ousted Syrian regime, appears to have said nothing officially.
U.S. Stance
The agreement raises particular questions for the U.S., especially in regard to its fight against ISIS.
The U.S. maintains some 2,000 troops in northeast Syria, working alongside the SDF, as Pentagon Press Secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder (US Air Force), said in December.
With the new agreement, which brings SDF troops under the control of Damascus, will they continue working with U.S. forces? Will U.S. forces even remain in Syria?
On Monday, CENTCOM posted a statement that the head of CENTCOM, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, had met with Abdi, while conducting a tour of the Middle East region from March 5-8. According to CENTCOM’s post, “Gen. Kurilla met with U.S. military commanders and service members, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”
Kurilla’s meetings included one with Abdi. In his meetings, Kurilla “received an update on the evolving situation in Syria and an assessment of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign,” CENTCOM said.
Almost certainly, Abdi and Kurilla discussed the agreement with al-Sharaa’s new government.
Yet CENTCOM has issued no statement about it, nor has the Pentagon. However, on Tuesday evening, the State Department issued a statement by Marco Rubio.
“The United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate the northeast into a unified Syria,” Rubio said.
“The United States reaffirms its support for a political transition that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict,” he continued, adding, “We will continue to watch the decisions made by the interim authorities, noting with concern the recent deadly violence against minorities.”
The last sentence was reference to conflicts that have erupted between members of the ousted regime and the new security forces.
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Usually such State Department statements like that welcoming the Syrian-SDF accord are issued in the name of the Spokesperson. That this statement was issued in Rubio’s name may well suggest the importance that the U.S. attaches to the issue.
