Kurdish political leaders in Syria’s northern Kurdish region are expected to call for a federal government structure in a future Syria, one that would give local regions autonomy and control over internal security, a senior official told Reuters this week.

According to Badran Jia Kurd, a senior figure in the Kurdish-led autonomous administration, all Kurdish parties operating in Syria’s northeast have now agreed on a joint political strategy centered on federalism. This comes as concern grows among Syria’s minority groups following recent attacks on Alawite communities.

“We have agreed on a federal, pluralistic, and democratic parliamentary system,” Jia Kurd said in a written statement provided to Reuters.

The comments mark the first official confirmation of the Kurdish vision since rival Kurdish parties came to an understanding last month.

The proposal, however, stands in direct contrast with the stance of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has previously rejected a federal system.

Sharaa, in comments made to The Economist in January, stated that federalism lacks public support and is incompatible with Syria’s national interest.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control nearly a quarter of the country after over a decade of civil war, recently entered into an agreement with Damascus to merge regional governing and security institutions into the national framework.

Despite this, Kurdish officials have accused Sharaa’s Islamist-led administration of excluding ethnic minorities and failing to honor promises of inclusiveness.

Jia Kurd stressed the need to protect the distinct political and cultural identity of each region within Syria. “That requires local legislative councils, executive authorities for each region, and internal security forces tied to those bodies,” he said.

The idea of federalism has gained traction in the wake of violence targeting Alawites, a minority group with ties to former President Bashar al-Assad. Kurdish parties say these attacks highlight the dangers of centralized power under a single group or ideology.

In March, hundreds of Alawites were reportedly killed in western Syria in reprisal attacks. Islamist-led authorities claim the violence erupted after their security units were targeted by pro-Assad fighters.

Interim leader Sharaa, previously affiliated with al Qaeda before parting ways in 2016, has pledged to hold those responsible accountable.

Suleiman Oso, head of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), a small coalition supported by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Barzani family, told reporters that the united Kurdish vision should be formally released at a conference later this month.

“Given recent events and the government’s new constitutional declaration, federalism is becoming widely seen as the most viable option,” Oso said.

The draft constitution reportedly provides sweeping powers to Sharaa, designates Arabic as the only official language, and enshrines Islamic law, with no recognition of Kurdish identity.

Kurdish officials have maintained that their objective is autonomy within Syria, not independence. “We are advocating for a system that respects the reality of Syria — a nation of diverse communities,” Oso added. “We will take these demands with us to Damascus.”

Neighboring Turkey, which supports Sharaa, has expressed concern over Kurdish ambitions.

Ankara views the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and affiliated groups as threats due to their ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which waged a long insurgency against the Turkish government.

(Credit: Reuters)