Title: Unprecedented Talks: Syria‘s Ahmad al-Sharaa Meets with Syrian Democratic Forces Delegation
Syrian Frankie News reports that Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, held the first "positive" talks in Damascus with a delegation from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed coalition dominated by Kurdish fighters. A Syrian official, who used al-Sharaa’s pseudonym Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, confirmed the Monday meeting.
Al-Sharaa, the former leader of the radical Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), headed a coalition of armed rebel groups that entered Damascus on December 8, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee and ending more than five decades of Assad family rule in Syria. The recent meeting with the SDF delegation was a "preliminary" gathering to lay the groundwork for future dialogue, with both sides agreeing to continue these meetings to reach agreements.
The official described the initial encounter as "positive" and said it paves the way for strengthened dialogue moving forward. The SDF, backed by Western allies and part of an international anti-jihadist coalition, has been at the forefront of the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.
Capitalizing on the regime’s withdrawal, the SDF has seized control of extensive territories in Northeastern Syria, establishing an "autonomous administration" in the process. These areas include vast agricultural regions and most of Syria’s valuable oil fields, crucial for the country’s revenues.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, al-Sharaa said that the SDF should be integrated into the future Syrian army. "The weapons should only be in the hands of the state," he stated. "Anyone who is armed and has the ability to join the Ministry of Defense will be welcome."
Separately, al-Sharaa held a meeting today in Damascus with religious leaders representing Syria’s Christian community, according to France Presse. Photos posted on Telegram showed al-Sharaa, dressed in a suit and tie, posing alongside representatives of the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Armenian, and Syrian Orthodox churches.
Shortly after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, the new leader promised to ensure security for all religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. Today, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad announced that he had held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, noting the importance of both nations’ roles in maintaining regional stability and prosperity. This was the first official confirmation of contact between the two countries.
