The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will not start disarming themselves as long as Islamic State militants remain active in the country, SDF spokesperson Ilham Ahmed said, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.

"We need to stick to our weapons because we are fighting ISIS. We will also need reinforcements, because it is obvious that in several areas of Syria ISIS has recently become even stronger than before," she said in an interview with the Emirati newspaper The National. The politician stressed that "the SDF is ready to cooperate with the Ministry of Defense without giving up its weapons, because they are a powerful defense force."

According to the representative of the Kurdish troops, the SDF may become part of the Syrian army in the long term, provided there is an "immediate ceasefire with Turkey" and "the end of the fight against ISIS." "If the attacks by the Turkish army cease, the SDF may begin operations against ISIS in cooperation with the Syrian army," Ahmed added.