The commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has stated that Syrian Kurds do not seek an independent government or parliament but instead aim to manage their affairs within a decentralized Syrian state.

Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the SDF, told the Associated Press that he recently met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa regarding the transition period, with both sides working to find a solution for Syria’s future.

“The end of Assad’s rule was a historic step, and a new Syria must be built on this foundation, ensuring that the Ba’ath Party and its ideology are not repeated,” he said.
“We want to push Syria forward together,” Abdi added.

SDF’s Position on Syria’s Future
Ahmed al-Sharaa was elected president for the transitional period during a meeting in Damascus last week. However, Abdi clarified that:
“We were not present at the meeting and will not comment on it.”

He emphasized that the issue has not yet been discussed with the SDF but that negotiations between Ahmed al-Sharaa and the SDF are ongoing, and their stance will be determined based on the outcome of these talks.

He also stated that SDF officials will continue visiting Damascus to reach an agreement with the new authorities.
International Mediation
Abdi revealed that members of the international coalition against ISIS, including the United States, Britain, and France, are acting as mediators between the SDF and Damascus.

“We want Syria to be a unified state with a central government in Damascus,” he said.
“The Kurds in Syria do not seek to secede or establish an independent government and parliament like the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The people of northern and eastern Syria simply want to manage their internal affairs within a decentralized state,” he added.

“Syria is not Iraq, Iraq is not Syria, and northern and eastern Syria is not the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”

SDF’s Future Role in Syria
Abdi stressed that the SDF should become an integral part of Syria’s national defense structure, stating:

“We want the SDF to become part of the Ministry of Defense and a strategic component of Syria’s defense. We have submitted a proposal to Damascus and are awaiting a response.”