Erdogan says Kurdish SDF “stalling” despite integration deal with Damascus

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — Members of the YPG-dominated SDF stand together as they hold their weapons in Hassakeh, Syria, Dec. 6, 2024. (Reuters Photo via Daily Sabah)

ANKARA  -  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Kurdish-dominated and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were using "stalling tactics" despite an agreement with the new Syrian government for the group's integration into Syrian armed forces.

Speaking to reporters on a flight from Azerbaijan, Erdogan repeated Turkey's position that Syria's unity and territorial integrity must be preserved, saying the SDF-Damascus deal must be implemented in the agreed and planned timeline.

"We had said before we welcomed the agreement. But we see that the Syrian Democratic Forces are still continuing their stalling tactics. They must stop this," he was cited as saying by his office on Thursday.

 (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu)