Syrians Celebrate in Damascus and Qamishli as Kurdish-Led SDF Integrates with State Forces in Historic Unity Deal

Syrians Celebrate in Damascus, Qamishli as Kurdish-Led SDF Joins State Forces

On March 11, Syrians gathered in both Qamishli, in northeastern Syria, and the capital, Damascus, to celebrate a historic agreement. The deal, signed by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi, marks a significant step toward national unity.

In the early hours, jubilant crowds filled the streets of both cities, waving flags and chanting, “One, one, one, the Syrian people are one.” Car convoys honked in celebration as people expressed hope for a more unified Syria.

The Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed SDF, which controls much of Syria’s oil-rich northeast, reached an agreement with the Damascus government on Monday, March 10, to integrate into Syria’s new state institutions, including the national army and presidency.

This agreement comes at a critical moment as President Sharaa works to stabilize the country following recent sectarian violence in western Syria. The mass killings of Alawite minority members in the region have been a major challenge to his efforts to reunify the nation after 14 years of conflict. The violence followed the downfall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, forcing him to flee to Russia, his longtime ally.

The integration of the SDF into Syria’s state framework is seen as a crucial step toward national reconciliation, promising a more inclusive political process that represents all ethnic and religious groups within the country.