"Any political agreement should include the special status" of the Syrian Democratic Forces after they fought ISIS "on behalf of all humanity and even the Syrian army," SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Kobani said.
"This is our red line and we will not concede this" in ongoing talks with the Damascus regime, he said in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
The SDF control around a third of Syria after expelling gunnies from a large northeastern swathe of the war-torn country with backing from the US-led coalition.
The Kurdish-led alliance "protected northeastern Syria ... liberated these areas, and have the right to continue protecting the region," said Kobani, who was speaking near the northeastern city of Hasakah.
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
’s government has gained ground against rebels and gunnies with key Russian backing since 2015, and now controls almost two-thirds of the country.
It is determined to reassert its authority over SDF-held areas, which make up the lion’s share of the rest.
But after years of marginalization, the Kurds are determined to keep some of the autonomy they gained during the eight-year war.
The SDF could "agree to be part of the national army of a future Syria, but only on the condition they keep their special status," Kobani said.
Damascus has rejected self-rule in northeastern Syria, but Kurdish leaders started talks with the government in July in a bid to seek some form of decentralization.