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US-backed commander says his Kurdish-led group wants a secular and civil state in post-Assad Syria

AP Archive 519 5 days ago
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(3 Feb 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka, Syria – 31 January 2025 1. Various of SDF manning a checkpoint on a road in Hasaka ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 02 February 2025 2. Commander of SDF Mazloum Abdi in office 3. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “The fall of the Assad regime was a historic step for the Syrian people and based on that a new Syria should be built without restoring the Baath party or its ideology, indeed, we want to move Syria forward together without repeating the Baath experience.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 31 January 2025 4. SDF fighters man checkpoint on streets in Hasaka ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 02 February 2025 5. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “Regarding the subject you mentioned (al Sharaa’s inauguration as president) We were not there. Where those military forces were present. We were not there when Mr. Ahmad al Sharaa was chosen as the president of Syria. We were not invited. Therefore, we can’t say anything about that as we were not there. We can’t comment on that.” 6. Logo of SDF on Mazloum Abdi’s military uniform 7. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces SDF: “No doubt the meetings between us and the administration in Damascus will continue. The two sides are negotiating with the help of mediators, and our stance to the Damascus government will be based on the results of these negotiations.” 8. Mid of Mazloum Abdi’s hands 9. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “In a general principle, the Syrian Democratic Forces, means our military forces in this region want to be part of the defence ministry. We want to be part of the Syrian army and this is one of our main demands. But we say the process of integrating the forces in northeastern Syria into the defence ministry needs negotiations and time. It is not a process that can be done in a short time.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 31 January 2025 10. SDF fighters man checkpoint ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 02 February 2025 11. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “(We want) Syria to be a decentralized, secular and civil country based on democracy that preserves the rights of all of its components. We want a diverse and multi-ethnic Syria, and this is our general view for Syria.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 31 January 2025 12. Various of US armoured military vehicles driving in Hasaka ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 02 February 2025 13. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “Regarding the issue of the unity of Syria and the unity of Syrian territories, we would protect it as Syrians. But, as mentioned, we want a decentralised Syria, and this decentralisation is based on that part of the central government’s authorities should be in the hands of governorates.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 31 January 2025 14. SDF members on streets in Hasaka ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 02 February 2025 15. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mazloum Abdi, Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): “We are not part of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and we don’t have a connection with the PKK organization. We are not part of the fight between PKK and Turkey as it has been shown. This is not our cause, but it has been taken as an excuse to attack our region.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Hasaka – 31 January 2025 16. Children passing by armoured vehicle in Hasaka STORYLINE: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1530037842994294a967b486bd864db3

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