Syria establishes a committee to implement a historic agreement with Kurdish-led forces amid regional tensions, as a Turkish airstrike kills nine family members near Kobani, drawing condemnation from local authorities and calls for international investigation.
Damascus Moves Forward with SDF Integration
The Syrian presidency announced Monday the formation of a special five-member committee tasked with implementing the recently signed agreement between the Syrian state and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Former Deir ez-Zor governor Hussein al-Salama will chair this committee, which represents a significant milestone in negotiations between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
The committee is scheduled to meet with SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi in Hasakah on Wednesday to discuss implementation phases. Specialized subcommittees focusing on economic, political, and military aspects will be established in coming weeks to address specific areas of the agreement.
This landmark deal, signed by Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Commander Abdi earlier this month, aims to integrate AANES-affiliated military and civilian structures into Syria’s state institutions. Though details remain under discussion, core objectives include incorporating SDF forces into a unified Syrian defense structure and formalizing AANES governance under state administration.
Regional Support and Challenges
The agreement has garnered broad Arab and international support, with many viewing it as a crucial step toward stabilizing Syria and resolving governance disputes in the northeast, where the SDF and AANES have maintained de facto autonomy since the conflict began.
However, significant challenges remain, particularly regarding the extent of AANES’s autonomy within the Syrian state framework. The role of external actors, including the United States and Russia, in facilitating this transition also remains a complex factor in the implementation process.
Observers emphasize that successful integration will depend on continued dialogue and guarantees that the rights of various communities within AANES territories are preserved. The coming weeks will be critical in determining the effectiveness of the integration process amid persistent tensions in northern Syria.
Deadly Turkish Airstrike Hits Kobani Countryside
Against this backdrop of potential reconciliation, violence continues to plague northern Syria. Early Monday, a Turkish drone strike killed nine members of a single family in Qomji village south of Kobani. The victims included women and children, with two others—18-year-old Ronida Othman Abdo and 9-year-old Narin Othman Abdo—sustaining injuries.
A local source reported that the drone targeted a farm where the family worked, with the father employed as a watchman. The victims were identified as Ahin, Dijla, Delovan, Yasser, Aziza, Salha, and Avista, along with their parents, Othman Barkal Abdo and Ghazala Osman Abdo. Ronida is currently receiving intensive care at al-Amal Hospital in Kobani due to severe wounds.
SDF Commander Condemns Attack
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi condemned the attack, stating: “We extend our condolences to the families of the innocent victims who perished in the Turkish bombardment of an entire family in the Kobani countryside, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery. Targeting a farmer and his children is a crime against humanity.”
Abdi called on the interim government to take responsibility for the killing of its citizens by foreign countries and appealed to the international coalition and active powers to stop these crimes. He emphasized that a ceasefire throughout Syrian territory has become essential for the success of the transition toward a stable and secure Syria.
AANES Calls for International Investigation
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a formal statement calling for an international investigation into what it described as “massacres committed by the Turkish state.” The AANES asserted that the Kobani countryside killings are not the first atrocities committed by Turkey, noting these acts occur “in full view of international organizations and the global community, who remain silent and inactive.”
The statement urged the international community, including all relevant institutions and the Global Coalition, to take a clear stance on these attacks and “break their silence.” Additionally, the AANES demanded that cases of massacres and war crimes allegedly committed by Turkey be referred to the International Criminal Court.
As Syria attempts to navigate this complex period of potential reconciliation between Damascus and Kurdish-led forces, continued violence highlights the fragile nature of the peace process and the significant obstacles that remain on the path toward stability.
