Syrian Kurds Brace for Uncertainty as Autonomous Region Integrates with Damascus

Hasaka, a Kurdish-majority city in northeastern Syria, is shrouded in a tense silence following the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their integration into the Syrian government's institutions. The autonomous administration that had governed the region for a decade is no more, leaving residents and local security forces in a state of cautious anticipation.

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I want to believe this is a new beginning. But trust is not given, it is earned.

A recent explosion outside the Palace of Justice on Friday, which killed two people, shattered the fragile calm, highlighting the underlying instability. While the integration process is proceeding, its effects are not uniform across the SDF-controlled territories. In Raqqa, where Arabs form the majority, the mood appears more relaxed, with streets and cafes bustling. However, in Hasaka, the city's streets are largely empty, reflecting a pervasive sense of unease about what lies ahead.

"I want to believe this is a new beginning. But trust is not given, it is earned," an anonymous member of the Kurdish-led internal security force, the 'Asayish,' told EFE. This force is awaiting integration into the Syrian Interior Ministry. "We will judge this government by what it does for Kurdish families, for our language in schools, for the protection of our land, and for the security of our people. Until then, we will observe and wait," the member added, describing the atmosphere as one of "cautious patience rather than celebration."

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We will judge this government by what it does for Kurdish families, for our language in schools, for the protection of our land, and for the security of our people. Until then, we will observe and wait.

This sentiment is echoed by concerns about future friction. "To be honest, I think there will be problems at the beginning," the Asayish member admitted. "Some of our people are angry because the SDF is gone, and some in Damascus still see the Kurds as a threat." The individual stressed that "that tension does not disappear just because an agreement has been signed. It will require real effort, from both sides, to build trust."

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To be honest, I think there will be problems at the beginning.

Hasaka, the largest city in the northeast and the former seat of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, has historically been a mixed city with adjacent districts inhabited by Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian communities. While Kurds form a plurality, they are not always an absolute majority within the city itself, unlike in nearby Qamishli, often called the cultural epicenter and 'heart' of Kurdish territory in Syria. For nearly a decade, since the SDF's formation in 2015 amid the Syrian civil war, Hasaka served as a provincial capital and the headquarters of a self-governing entity that even implemented a Kurdish-language education system, a move never recognized by Damascus.

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Some of our people are angry because the SDF is gone, and some in Damascus still see the Kurds as a threat.