Syrian Army Killed In Clashes With SDF In Aleppo

JAKARTA - A Syrian government soldier was killed in clashes with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern region of Aleppo.

The SDF in March agreed with the Syrian government led by Islamist groups to join state institutions as part of an effort to reunite a divided country due to a 14-year civil war.

The deal aims to pave the way for the SDF, which controls a quarter of Syria, and regional Kurdish governing bodies to reintegrate with Damascus.

However, the deal did not explain how SDF would join the Syrian central armed forces.

The SDF previously stated its fighters should join as a block, while Damascus wanted them to join individually.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday, August 12, the SDF must comply with the deal and stop targeting government forces.

The ministry warned "the continuation of this action will have new consequences", the SANA government news agency reported.

Earlier, government sources told SANA that Damascus would not participate in planned meetings with the SDF in Paris.

The hope of the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to reunite Syria under a government led by its Islamic group is complicated by the mix of sectarian and ethnic groups in the country.

Syria is the majority of Sunni Muslims with religious minorities including Alawi, Kristen, Druze, and Shia and Ismailiyah Muslims. Although most of Syria's population is Arabic, the country also has a sizable ethnic Kurdish minority.