Qamishlo Residents Hope for a Greater Kurdish Role in Syria Following the Dissolution of the SDF
Welat TV – Erbil
Residents of the city of Qamishlo expressed mixed reactions following the announcement of the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with feelings ranging from a sense of loss to hope that the move could mark the beginning of a political process guaranteeing Kurdish rights.
“We Came Out with the Fewest Possible Losses”
Dilberin Mohammed, the owner of a computer equipment shop, said the current phase cannot be considered a major gain for the Kurds, but viewed it as an opportunity that could be built upon in the future.
Mohammed added: “At this stage, we came out with the fewest possible losses, because we really cannot call them gains. There may be some gains, but they are limited. I am optimistic that this step will be the first step, or the first cornerstone, upon which the Kurds can build in the future to achieve their full rights.”
“Losses Do Not Reflect the Scale of the Sacrifices”
For his part, Mohammed Izzaddin, a money exchange shop owner, said that a sense of loss remains present among many Kurds, considering that what has been achieved does not, in his view, correspond to the scale of the sacrifices made over the past years.
Izzaddin said: “Frankly, the feeling of loss exists in the heart of every Kurd. But we can say that the gains are limited, not the losses. The achievements made following the integration and dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces are modest compared with the sacrifices made by the Kurdish people in the region.”
A Hope for a Greater Political Role
For his part, Alan Barakat said that recent developments could be viewed from a different political perspective, noting that, in his view, the Kurds had never previously reached decision-making positions in Syria.
Barakat said: “I am constantly haunted by a feeling of defeat. But if we look at the matter from a political perspective, since 1957 and throughout the history of the Kurdish political movement, Kurds have never entered the presidential palace or reached the center of decision-making. This is what gives some people a sense of reassurance.”
“What Have We Achieved?”
Meanwhile, Ghazala, a resident of the city, expressed her disappointment with the outcome of recent developments, questioning what had been achieved “after years of war and sacrifices,” while maintaining hope that the coming phase would lead to a greater political role for the Kurds.
Ghazala said: “This is not what we had hoped for after all this blood and all these martyrs. What have we achieved? But what can we do? We hope that this will be good for the Kurds, that we will be at the center of decision-making, and that the blood of our martyrs will not have been shed in vain.”
“Peace After Years of War”
In contrast, Ahmad Dali stressed that peace has become the priority for residents after years of war, considering that society, in all its components, has been exhausted by the conflict.
Dali said: “We were supposed to have achieved greater gains, but events unfolded the way they did. In the end, peace is better than war. People are exhausted, whether Arabs or Kurds. It is enough that mothers continue to live with grief and loss.”
The testimonies of residents reflect differing assessments of the new phase. While some view the dissolution of the SDF as a loss compared with the scale of the sacrifices made, others hope that the development will mark the beginning of a political process that gives Kurds a greater role in decision-making institutions. Others, meanwhile, place ending the war and achieving stability above political gains.
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