Military movements in al-Hasakah governorate (northeastern Syria) have underscored the seriousness of the latest negotiation track between Damascus and the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
A high-level delegation from the Syrian army’s Operations Department conducted a field tour on Friday, 6 February, described as “positive,” aimed at laying out the broad lines for implementing the agreement reached between the two sides on the ground.
Field coordination and reconnaissance tours
Enab Baladi’s correspondent in al-Hasakah reported, citing SDF-affiliated military sources, that the Syrian Defense Ministry delegation entered the city earlier on Friday, first heading to the Istirahat al-Wazir site north of al-Hasakah, before later moving to the Fawj Kawkab headquarters (Regiment 123).
The meeting, which brought together officers from the Operations Department and SDF leaders, headed by Jiya Kobani, a member of the SDF General Command, was not limited to closed rooms. It was followed by a field tour that included strategic sites and areas across the governorate.
According to the SDF sources, discussions focused in detail on identifying where SDF brigades would be deployed after the planned integration process, outlining the areas where Defense Ministry forces would be positioned, and setting the distances between both sides to ensure smooth military coordination.
Key features of the agreement: withdrawal, dismantling, and integration
The Syrian army’s Operations Department said the main goal of these moves is to begin field implementation of the agreement reached with the SDF.
According to official statements, the parties agreed on specific timelines to start implementing the provisions in the coming days.
The provisions include:
- Withdrawal from civilian centers: clearing cities and towns of armed presence and pulling back to specific, mutually agreed military points
- Opening international and internal roads: removing obstacles to facilitate traffic and civilian movement between different areas
- Technical and military cooperation: beginning operations to dismantle mines and remove earthen berms left by years of conflict
- Force restructuring: speeding up the integration of SDF personnel into the Syrian Defense Ministry’s rosters
In this context, sources inside the SDF told Enab Baladi that specific military points, such as the “Tal Baydar Regiment” (north of al-Hasakah), the Istirahat al-Wazir site, and the “Jabal Kawkab Regiment” (near al-Hasakah), were approved to serve as official bases for SDF members who will be integrated within three military brigades that will be administratively and operationally affiliated with the Defense Ministry in Damascus.
Reactions
The SDF leadership confirmed it received the Syrian military delegation, noting that the meeting follows up on what was reached in late January.
The SDF said discussions are “still ongoing” to address all technical and military details related to the integration process, to prevent field friction during the transitional phase.
These developments come amid public anticipation in al-Hasakah, where residents hope the understandings will improve security and services, especially with talk of reopening roads and removing berms that have cut the governorate’s connections for years.
This field momentum is a direct outcome of a series of intensive meetings that culminated in an agreement on 30 January between the Syrian government and the SDF leadership under American and French sponsorship. The agreement marked a shift in the relationship between the two sides, moving beyond confrontation toward containment.
The arrival of the Operations Department delegation to al-Hasakah is viewed as the first real test of both sides’ ability to overcome “logistical” obstacles and translate political understandings into a military reality that ends the existing state of division.
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