SDF commander claims clashes with Syrian army were “forced” by other parties

• Strategic Retreat to Avoid War: SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi said the withdrawal from Tabqa, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor as a choice made to prevent a full-scale civil war.
• Despite ceding major infrastructure and Arab-majority areas to the Syrian Army, Abdi maintained that the SDF will defend its remaining territories on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and protect the "democratic gains" made during the fight against Daesh.

Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), issued his first statement on Sunday after the recent ceasefire announcement with the Syrian government.

Regarding the territory lost to the Syrian army in the country’s north and east, Abdi described it as a strategic move to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

Abdi claimed that the clashes with the Syrian Army were "forced" upon his troops through what he characterized as a pre-meditated plan involving multiple parties.

He confirmed that the withdrawal from strategic hubs, including the city of Tabqa, its military airport, and the Euphrates Dam, was a decision intended to prevent the country from sliding into a devastating civil war.

Battlefield Costs and Coordination Claims

The SDF commander acknowledged that the Kurdish-led force has suffered "heavy casualties" in recent days during intense engagements with government troops.

Abdi alluded to the existence of "joint operations rooms" that he claims planned the dissolution of SDF influence west of the Euphrates River.

Commitment to "Democratic Gains"

Despite the significant territorial retreats, Abdi emphasized that the SDF would not abandon the "democratic gains" achieved during years of combat against Daesh.

He maintained that his forces remained committed to defending their remaining territories.

The SDF has ceded major infrastructure and Arab-majority areas like Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, but seems to intend to consolidate its presence on the eastern bank of the river.

Future Outlook

The statement follows the signing of a 14-point agreement in Damascus that mandates the integration of the SDF into the Syrian national military.