Kurdish led SDF agrees to integrate into Syrian state institutions presidency says

CAIRO - The Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),which controls much of Syrias oil-rich northeast, has signed a deal agreeing to integrate into Syrias new state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday.

The deal, which included a complete cessation of hostilities, was signed by interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and the SDFs commander, Mazloum Abdi.

Under the deal, whose text was posted online by the presidency, all civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria will be integrated within the state, which will thus take over control of borders, airports and oil and gas fields.

The SDF agrees to support the government in combating remnants of deposed president Bashar al-Assads regime, and any threats to Syrias security and unity.

Since Assad was overthrown by Sharaas Islamist forces in December, groups backed by Turkey, one of Sharaas main supporters, have clashed with the SDF, the main ally in a U.S. coalition against Islamic State militants in Syria.

The SDF is spearheaded by the YPG militia, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.

Turkey regards the PKK, YPG and SDF as terrorist groups, and Sharaas new Damascus administration had been pressing the SDF to merge into newly-minted state security forces.

Abdi had previously expressed a willingness for his forces to be part of the new defence ministry, but said they should join as a bloc rather than individuals, an idea that was rejected by the new government.

The U.S. and Turkeys Western allies list the PKK as a terrorist group, but not the YPG or the SDF. REUTERS

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