Photo credit: The Jerusalem Post
Syrian internal security forces have begun deploying in the critical northeastern province of Al-Hasakah , marking a tangible step in implementing a recent agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces. A Syrian official confirmed that forces would also enter the city of Qamishli, a major urban centre in the region long under SDF control. The moves are part of a “comprehensive agreement” announced last Friday, designed to restore central government authority in areas held by the Kurdah-led administration and end Syria’s de facto partition.
Yeni Safak reports that the initial deployment into Al-Hasakah on Monday included a convoy of armored personnel carriers, support vehicles, and communication units, which reportedly received a warm welcome from local residents, according to state media.
The integration of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli is a major strategic victory for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The northeast holds most of Syria’s vital agricultural land and oil resources, which have been outside Damascus’s direct control for over a decade. Restoring sovereignty over this region is a central goal for the government as it seeks to consolidate its position after years of civil war. The peaceful entry of state security forces, as opposed to a military assault, suggests a negotiated compromise that avoids immediate conflict and potentially paves the way for the return of other state institutions.
The unfolding integration presents a complex new reality for regional powers with stakes in Syria’s future. For Turkiye, which views the SDF’s primary component, The YPG, as an extension of the outlawed PKK, the formal incorporation of these forces into the Syrian state could be a double-edged sword. Ankara’s long-stated demand has been the removal of the YPG from border areas and its disarming. If the agreement leads to genuine disbandment of the YPG as a separate armed entity and the re-establishment of Damascus’s control over the border, it could align with Turkish security interests. However, Turkey will closely monitor whether this intention is substantive or merely a formal change that leaves the YPG’s influence intact under a different name.
