Abdi insists on SDF control in Hasakah as al-Sharaa hints at military action

Media reports said negotiations between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, leader of the SDF, continued for five hours over the future of the administration of Hasakah province.

According to the reports, Abdi insisted that the province’s administration should remain under SDF control, while al-Sharaa warned that a military solution could be used.

Al Jazeera said on Monday evening, citing unnamed sources, that the talks lasted five hours. During the meeting, al-Sharaa reportedly offered Abdi the post of deputy defence minister and the nomination of a governor for Hasakah, in return for distancing the SDF from the PKK.

Turkey regards the SDF as affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it labels a “terrorist” group.

The sources said the meeting involved intensive negotiations on the future of Hasakah province, without giving details about the location.

They added that al-Sharaa demanded the entry of internal security forces into the city, while Abdi insisted on the SDF retaining full administrative control.

The sources also said al-Sharaa rejected Abdi’s request for a five-day period to consult others. He reportedly asked for a final answer by the end of the day, warning of a military option and of informing the international community about a withdrawal from the talks.

This comes as the Syrian army announced it had taken control of the town of al-Shaddadi and its prison in the countryside of Hasakah province in north-eastern Syria, and had begun pursuing Daesh members who were released by the SDF.

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