ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday submitted a list of its commanders to the US-led global coalition for integration into the Syrian army.

The Kurdish-led forces “have submitted to the International Coalition a list of around 70 field commanders who fought [the Islamic State] ISIS, as part of preparations to restructure their units into three divisions and special brigades within the Syrian Army,” the northeast Syria (Rojava) administration said in a statement.

The list contains leaders of Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor provinces’ military divisions, according to the coalition-affiliated North Press Agency (NPA).

The reports follow a verbal agreement between the Kurdish-led forces and Damascus in early October on the framework for implementing the March 10 agreement, which would see the SDF integrate into the Syrian army.

In an interview with the Associated Press on October 16, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi stated that the Kurdish forces’ integration into the Syrian army will not take place individually. They will instead join the state as a united force, maintaining its structure and leadership.

Abdi’s remarks were backed by Syrian state media which, citing an unnamed source, asserted that the SDF “will retain leadership positions” in Rojava.

“This step represents tangible progress toward unifying Syria’s military institutions,” the administration added, asserting that the move shows that the dialogue between the two sides “is advancing toward a national army that preserves stability and fights terrorism.”

The list “also includes commanders of three special brigades under the General Staff, with SDF leaders accounting for roughly 30 percent of the staff,” NPA reported, noting that one of the brigades will focus on counterterrorism efforts in coordination with the global coalition.

Abdi had previously expressed intent to collaborate with the Damascus forces in order to fight off ISIS remnants in the region, who continue to present an ongoing threat in Rojava despite their territorial defeat in 2019 in the form of sporadic hit-and-run attacks mainly in Deir ez-Zor and Deir Hafer areas.

During an event earlier this month celebrating the 10^th anniversary of SDF’s founding, Abdi stated that the Kurdish forces will play “a great role” in the to-be-formed Syrian army and will “strengthen it.”

The US-backed SDF functions as the de facto army of Rojava and currently controls one-third of the country’s overall territory.