Baghdad: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, engaged in discussions regarding the completion of the January 29 agreement, focusing on integrating the forces and institutions of the Autonomous Administration into Syrian state institutions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the meeting took place Tuesday evening at the People's Palace in Damascus. It was attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Deir ez-Zor Governor Ziad al-Ayesh, who is managing the integration process on behalf of the Syrian presidency. While the agency did not provide details of the decisions or a timeline for the agreement's implementation, the January agreement outlines a ceasefire and the gradual integration of the SDF's military and administrative structures. It includes deploying Interior Ministry forces in Hasakah and Qamishli, transferring control of government institutions, border crossings, and ports to the state, and addressing issues related to prisons, detainees, and displaced persons.

The meeting occurs amidst unrest in Hasakah province, where the SDF maintains control over northern areas near Turkey and Iraq. Local sources, speaking to the German Press Agency (dpa), accused groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), known as the "Revolutionary Youth," of violating the rights of Arab tribes and hindering the integration process. They reported instances of assaults on civilians, confiscation of properties of families with members in Syrian government institutions, and threats to displaced Arabs to prevent their return to towns and villages.

The sources indicated that these actions prompted tribal groups to mobilize and set up tents in several areas of the province to protest against the practices of the "Revolutionary Youth" and the SDF, as well as the deteriorating state of services. Neither the SDF nor the "Revolutionary Youth" have issued comments on these allegations.

The January agreement is part of Damascus's strategy to reassert state authority over all Syrian territories, including the completion of administrative and institutional handovers in Hasakah.