Syrian soldier killed in clashes with SDF in Aleppo, state news agency says

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)

DUBAI  -  A Syrian government soldier was killed in clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern governorate of Aleppo on Tuesday, Syria's state news agency SANA said, citing the Defence Ministry.  

In March the SDF agreed with Syria's Islamist-led government to join state institutions as part of efforts to reunite a country fractured by 14 years of civil war. The deal aimed to pave the way for the SDF, which holds a quarter of Syria, and regional Kurdish governing bodies to reintegrate with Damascus.

But the accord did not spell out how the SDF would merge with Syria's central armed forces. The SDF has previously said its fighters must join as a bloc, while Damascus wants them to join as individuals.

The Defence Ministry said on Tuesday the SDF must abide by the accord and stop targeting government forces, warning that "the continuation of these actions will lead to new consequences", SANA reported.

On Saturday, a government source told SANA that Damascus would not participate in planned meetings with the SDF in Paris.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's hopes of stitching Syria back together under the rule of his Islamist-led government are complicated by the country's mix of sectarian and ethnic groups.

Syria is majority Sunni Muslim with religious minorities including Alawites, Christians, Druze and Shi'ite and Ismaili Muslims. While most Syrians are Arab, the country also has a sizeable ethnic Kurdish minority.

 (Reporting by Ahmed Elimam; editing by Alison Williams and Mark Heinrich // REUTERS)