DAMASCUS/QAMISHLI: A critical deadline is looming over Northeast Syria, threatening to shatter the fragile peace in the region. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are under immense diplomatic and military pressure to dissolve their independent command structure and integrate directly into the Syrian Army.
The “Merge or Perish” Deal Sources indicate that negotiations mediated by Russia have reached a stalemate. Damascus is demanding full submission—meaning the SDF would cease to exist as an autonomous entity and its fighters would fall under the command of President Bashar al-Assad’s Ministry of Defense.
Why Now? The urgency comes as the current ceasefire agreement is set to expire. Without a deal, the region faces threats from two sides: a potential Turkish ground offensive aiming to crush Kurdish militias, and a Syrian government eager to reclaim “every inch” of territory.
The US Factor With US influence in the region shifting, the SDF finds itself with fewer cards to play. Integrating with the Syrian Army might be the only way to prevent a Turkish invasion, but it would come at the cost of the autonomy they fought for over a decade.
