From now on in Syria, only the state will be entitled to use armed groups, said the Syrian "president in the transitional period" Ahmed al-Sharaa at the first conference of the national dialogue in Damascus. This was reported by Al-Arabiya.

"The unity of the armed forces, the state's monopoly on them is not a luxury, but a moral duty and obligation," he said.

After the capture of Damascus in December 2024, the new Syrian administration disbanded the previously existing troops and security services, and intended to integrate various armed groups into the newly created army. Al-Sharaa noted that Kurdish units should become part of the new armed forces.

However, Al-Arabiya clarifies, 35 parties representing Kurds from northeastern Syria stated that only symbolic representation was provided to ethno-confessional minorities at the Damascus conference. Representatives of the self-proclaimed Kurdish autonomy of Rojava and the Kurdish-led paramilitary "Syrian Democratic Forces" were also not invited to the conference.

Al-Sharaa said that the authorities would work on establishing a justice body for the transitional period, which would ensure the punishment of criminals and the restoration of the civil rights of Syrians.

According to him, Syria's foreign policy will be based on "balance and openness", a willingness to engage in dialogue with any party willing to resume relations with mutual respect. "Syrian Foreign Minister" Asaad Hassan al-Shibani recalled that Syria under the "new administration" has already participated in regional international conferences and achieved the lifting of some sanctions.