Syrian security forces enter key northeastern cities under new pact

Syrian internal security forces have begun deploying in the critical northeastern province of Al-Hasakah, marking a tangible step in implementing a recent agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces. A senior Syrian official confirmed that forces would also enter the city of Qamishli, a major urban center in the region long under SDF control. The moves are part of a "comprehensive agreement" announced last Friday, designed to restore central government authority in areas held by the Kurdish-led administration and end Syria's de facto partition.

On-the-ground deployment and integration plans

The initial deployment into Al-Hasakah on Monday included a convoy of armored personnel carriers, support vehicles, and communication units, which reportedly received a warm welcome from local residents, according to state media. Hasakah's Internal Security Commander, Marwan al-Ali, outlined the next steps, stating that "a number of vehicles and Interior Ministry personnel entered Hasakah today, to be followed by the entry of similar vehicles and forces into Qamishli." He confirmed that under the agreement, existing SDF-affiliated security forces, known as the Asayish, would be integrated into the formal structure of the Syrian Interior Ministry, representing a significant shift in local governance and security.

Strategic significance of the northeast region

The integration of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli is a major strategic victory for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The northeast holds most of Syria's vital agricultural land and oil resources, which have been outside Damascus's direct control for over a decade. Restoring sovereignty over this region is a central goal for the government as it seeks to consolidate its position after years of civil war. The peaceful entry of state security forces, as opposed to a military assault, suggests a negotiated compromise that avoids immediate conflict and potentially paves the way for the return of other state institutions.

Implications for regional actors, including Türkiye

The unfolding integration presents a complex new reality for regional powers with stakes in Syria's future. For Türkiye, which views the SDF's primary component, the YPG, as an extension of the outlawed PKK, the formal incorporation of these forces into the Syrian state could be a double-edged sword. Ankara's long-stated demand has been the removal of the YPG from border areas and its disarming. If the agreement leads to the genuine disbandment of the YPG as a separate armed entity and the re-establishment of Damascus's control over the border, it could align with Turkish security interests. However, Türkiye will closely monitor whether this integration is substantive or merely a formal change that leaves the YPG's influence intact under a different name.