Damascus to pay northeast staff
Some 50,000 administrative employees of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria will keep their jobs with salaries paid through Syrian state ministries, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said on 14 May 2026. The arrangement is part of the integration agreement of 29 January 2026, under which institutions of the autonomous region are folding into the Syrian state.
Roughly 15,000 personnel of the Asayish, the autonomous region's internal security force, will remain stationed in Kurdish-majority areas while their members join state institutions, Abdi said.
Oil revenue talks ongoing
Oil fields in the northeast belong to the Syrian state, Abdi said, with talks continuing on a production-sharing mechanism. Forces being merged into the Syrian army are now drawing pay from the central government, while units still under the Autonomous Administration are financed through border fees, taxes, and a share of oil revenue.
Financing for the integrated brigades is not yet resolved, he added, noting continued contact with the United States envoy on implementation of the agreement.
Nusaybin crossing to reopen
The Nusaybin border crossing between Qamishli and Turkey will reopen, after a delay tied to an incident in Hasakah, Abdi said. The crossing is one of the main northern gateways for trade and movement between the northeast and Turkey, and its closure in recent years has weighed on commercial activity and civilian transit.
Four brigades, prisoner releases
Four military brigades have been formed from SDF fighters within the Syrian army, retaining their existing commanders, Abdi said. The SDF will continue to exist as an entity until integration is completed, after which it will be dissolved.
On detentions tied to the conflict, the Syrian government has released about 900 individuals, while the SDF has freed more than 500, with roughly 500 people still held in SDF custody, the commander said.
Education and unresolved files
A final agreement has been reached with Damascus on recognizing certificates issued under the Autonomous Administration's curricula, including for prior years, Abdi said. Talks continue on Kurdish-language instruction in Kurdish-majority areas.
Discussions also remain open on the future of the Women's Protection Units, which Damascus has proposed integrating into the internal security forces. Abdi said he had declined cabinet positions offered to him in order to focus on completing the integration process.