"Syrian Defense Minister" Ali Mahmoud Abbas stated that Damascus was ready to negotiate with the Kurdish-led "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF), but that a military operation was still possible. His words were quoted by Western media.

"The door to negotiations with the SDF is currently open. If we need to resort to force, we will be ready," the "minister" said.

According to the Shafaq News agency, Abbas said that the SDF offered the "Syrian administration" to transfer oil fields under its control. He indicated that this initiative was under consideration. He also mentioned reports of difficulties with the transfer of prisons where ISIS members are held (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) by the SDF.

The "minister" noted that the eastern border of Syria was not yet under the control of Damascus.

He also touched upon the issue of the presence of Israeli troops in southern Syria. "The mediating country is working to ensure that the Israeli occupiers withdraw from the areas they have advanced into in southern Syria," Abbas said, without naming the mediator.

Abbas reported meetings with 70 groups in Syria, which, according to him, expressed their readiness to stand under the command of the "Ministry of Defense." The "head of the agency" explained that these troops will not be included in the armed forces as independent units; their fighters will be assigned commanders to the necessary positions. He added that 6,500 officers who had previously deserted could play a role in rebuilding the army.

A source in the "security services" told the Al Jazeera TV channel that two members of the "Military Operations Department" forces were killed in an attack by Assad supporters in Jableh, in rural Latakia.