In a recent incident near Manbij, Syria, the Ministry of Defence has made allegations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), claiming that a rocket attack resulted in injuries to four army personnel and three civilians. This assertion was disseminated through an announcement by Syria’s official SANA news agency. In response to the purported attack, the Syrian military successfully repelled the assault, and efforts are currently underway to address the sources of fire that targeted civilian areas close to their deployment lines, as stated by the ministry.

In contrast, the SDF, which has received backing from the United States, has offered a different perspective. They contend that their actions were a necessary response to what they characterized as an unprovoked artillery barrage targeting civilian-populated regions, with over ten shells reportedly fired from factions aligned with the Syrian government. Notably, the SDF’s statement did not address any casualties on their side.

This incident comes shortly after the SDF entered into a significant agreement in March with the interim government of Syria, aimed at facilitating the integration of the SDF into national institutions. Since 2015, the SDF has maintained control over a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Syria. Should the deal progress as intended, it would signify a shift in governance, placing that territory under the full jurisdiction of Syria’s central government, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

President al-Sharaa recently made headlines for leading a rapid rebel campaign that resulted in the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December of the previous year. The dialogue surrounding the SDF’s potential integration into the Syrian state has been protracted, hindered by the significant divisions that have emerged during the lengthy civil war.

While the March agreement did not provide explicit details on the process for merging the SDF with the Syrian armed forces, it is clear that there are differing views on how this integration should occur. The SDF has expressed that their forces should merge as a cohesive unit, while the Damascus government favors an individualistic approach. Additionally, the SDF reiterated its commitment to existing de-escalation protocols, calling on the Syrian government to assume responsibility for regulating its own undisciplined factions in the face of ongoing tensions.

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