The Syrian government has appointed senior Kurdish military official Sipan Hamo as Assistant Minister of Defense for Syria’s eastern region, marking a significant step in the ongoing process of integrating Kurdish forces into state institutions.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Hamo will oversee defense affairs in eastern Syria as part of an agreement aimed at incorporating Kurdish military structures into the national defense system.

Hamo is a prominent commander within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led military alliance that controls large parts of northeastern Syria. He was among the key figures involved in negotiations with the Syrian government following clashes in January that resulted in Kurdish forces losing portions of their territory to government troops.

Under the agreement between the SDF and the government of Bashar al‑Assad, Kurdish military and civilian institutions will be gradually integrated into the Syrian state. As part of the deal, three SDF brigades will be incorporated into the Syrian army in Kurdish-majority areas of Al‑Hasakah.

In addition, another brigade is expected to be formed in Kobani, which gained international recognition as a symbol of Kurdish resistance during the battle against the extremist group Islamic State.

While the agreement represents a major development in relations between Damascus and Kurdish authorities, analysts say it may also mark a setback for Kurdish political leaders who had hoped to preserve the de facto autonomy established in northern and northeastern Syria during the country’s civil war.

As part of the broader arrangement, Kurdish authorities were allowed to nominate candidates for several administrative positions. In February, President Assad issued a decree appointing Noureddine Ahmed Eissa as governor of Al‑Hasakah province.