Siban Hammo: 4 brigades of the SDF have officially merged into the army
Deputy Minister of Defense for Eastern Province Affairs Samir Owusu (known as Siban Hammo) said that four brigades of the SDF have become an official part of the army so far as part of a broader plan to restructure and unify military formations under a central command.
In an interview with Hawar Agency, Hammou explained that the ministry has adopted a new military division based on five main regions: northern, western, eastern, southern and central, pointing out that the eastern region includes al-Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, adding that work is underway to consolidate the organizational structure in this area, through repositioning and deploying forces to ensure full harmony between the various formations.
New Internal Regulations for the Army Define Powers and Mechanisms for Deployment
Hammou pointed out that the merger process is still in its early stages, despite recording "official and organizational" progress through the formation of four brigades distributed in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), Hasakah, Qamishli and Malikiya, stressing that the actual numbers of SDF fighters exceed the size of these brigades, which necessitates the development of new mechanisms to absorb them into additional formations that are being worked out.
He pointed out that the ministry has not yet approved the final form of the divisions and brigades, pending the approval of the internal regulations that will determine the powers and mechanisms of deployment, with a trend to accelerate the completion of this framework and link the regional commanders with the Chief of Staff.
Regarding the rest of the formations that were part of the SDF, Hammo explained that the decision to merge belongs to each formation separately, considering that the ministry opens the door for all factions to join the army, provided that the standards of readiness, discipline and experience are adhered to.
Denial of the "Kurdish Brigade" project in Afrin
Regarding the formation of a "Kurdish brigade" in Afrin, Hammo denied that there is any project outside the framework of the agreement, explaining that the proposal came in the context of facilitating the return of fighters from the area to their homes, whether to join the military formations there or to return to civilian life, and said that the initiative was accepted within the ministry, but some parties "misinterpreted it."
Hammou spoke of the continuation of "problems" in the areas of Afrin, Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad as a result of the lack of complete harmony between the various formations, considering that the completion of the army's internal regulations will address these discrepancies. He stressed that building trust between the parties is a key element at this stage, and that the state will take a clear position towards any party that does not commit to the integration process.
Delay in processing the file of the SDF fighters
As for the sites from which US forces have withdrawn, Hammo said that these bases are being handed over to the Syrian army, explaining that some will be restored to their civilian status, while others will be used as training centers or military stations.
The deputy defense minister acknowledged that there is a delay in processing the file of the detained SDF fighters, despite previous promises to release them before Eid al-Fitr, and described the current release mechanism as "incorrect," calling for their release all at once, blaming political complications for the delay.
Building a state based on pluralism away from exclusion and domination
Speaking about regional policy, Hammo stressed that Syria adopts a "conflict avoidance" approach with neighboring countries, while reserving the right of intervention in the event of a direct threat, stressing the importance of maintaining stability and not being dragged into escalation.
Hammo concluded his speech by calling for strengthening the partnership between the Syrian components, stressing the need to guarantee the constitutional rights of the Kurds within the framework of a "united Syria", and to work to build a state based on pluralism away from exclusion and domination.
These statements come in light of changes on the ground in the areas controlled by the SDF in mid-January, after the Syrian army's entry into Raqqa and the countryside of Deir Ezzor and Hasakah, and the SDF's retreat to the city centers in Hasakah, Qamishli, and Ayn al-Arab.
The Autonomous Administration prevents judges and employees from entering the Judicial Palace in Al-Hasakah
The January 29 agreement stipulated the integration of the SDF's military, security and service institutions within government ministries, which began to be implemented at the beginning of last February before it was halted after the so-called "Autonomous Administration" in northeastern Syria prevented on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the entry of judges and employees of the Ministry of Justice to the Judicial Palace in the city of Al-Hasakah on April 21, 2026, in a step that is considered an escalation that may impede the integration of institutions in implementation of the January 29 agreement between the Syrian government and the organization SDF.
This measure came hours after government employees arrived at the Justice Palace building to begin work, before the security forces of the "Autonomous Administration" informed them of the ban, which led to a halt in movement inside the building and the complete suspension of judicial work, according to local sources.
The sources added that the decision to ban came against the background of disagreements on the issue of the integration of judicial cadres, as the "Autonomous Administration" believes that the integration of its cadres should be done "completely and without exception", while the Syrian government insists on adopting a selective mechanism that includes the re-evaluation of employees and determining the needs of the official judicial staff, which led to the stalled implementation of the agreement.
"Massad" turns against the January 29 agreement
On Tuesday, a group affiliated with the SDF advanced towards oil wells in the village of Sahrij in the countryside of the town of Al-Yarubiya, northeast of Al-Hasakah, which led to the outbreak of clashes in the area, according to local sources.
In an escalatory step that appears to be a coup against the January 29 agreement, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) announced its adherence to a decentralized system, demanding that the security and military forces be kept under the administration of the "Autonomous Administration" in the areas under its control.
This came in the words of the head of relations at the SDF, Hassan Mohammed Ali, who stressed in a statement on Tuesday the need for "the military and security forces to be affiliated with the Autonomous Administration and not to Damascus," while the January 29 agreement stipulated the integration of the institutions of the Autonomous Administration and the introduction of government security forces in the cities of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli, which reflects the direction of the SDF towards establishing the model of self-administration as a fait accompli in any future political settlement in Syria.