Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi announced Tuesday from the presidential palace in Damascus the dissolution of the force he leads and its full integration into Syrian state institutions, saying its mission had come to an end.
Speaking to reporters in Arabic and Kurdish, Abdi said: “Today, we announce the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces and, with full responsibility, announce its dissolution as an independent military force.”
Syrian state television reported that the announcement also included the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration and all military and civilian formations affiliated with it, followed by their full integration into Syrian state institutions.
The announcement came after a meeting between Abdi and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa at the presidential palace, attended by senior Kurdish administration official Ilham Ahmed and prominent Kurdish military commander Siban Hamo, who serves as deputy defense minister for the eastern region.
SDF to Join Syrian Army
The United States supported the SDF for many years in its fight against the Islamic State group, but Washington now also supports the new authorities in Damascus, established after the Assad family’s rule was overthrown on December 8, 2024.
Shortly afterward, the new Syrian authorities announced an agreement with “all armed factions” aimed at dissolving them and integrating them under the Ministry of Defense.
With the SDF being integrated into Syrian army brigades, Al-Sharaa has secured another significant step in his efforts to unify the country and extend state control across Syrian territory.
The SDF had served for years as the military arm of the Kurdish-led autonomous administration and the main force fighting the Islamic State, before political changes and reduced U.S. support pushed it toward an understanding with Damascus.
“The Circumstances Have Changed”
Abdi said SDF fighters had shouldered “a great responsibility during one of the most difficult periods Syria has experienced,” adding that they had “liberated many Syrian cities and towns, first from Baath rule and later from Islamic State terrorism.”
The United States, which led the international coalition against the Islamic State, was the Kurds’ main supporter in the fight against the group until it was driven from its last areas of territorial control in 2019.
Following the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad in late 2024, Washington quickly became a key supporter of Al-Sharaa and his efforts to reunify Syria after years of conflict.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack welcomed the SDF’s dissolution, describing it as “historic.”
Barrack said the decision opened the way for the “organized integration” of the SDF into Syrian state institutions, transforming past divisions into a lasting partnership and restoring Syrians’ opportunity to shape their shared future.
He added that genuine integration meant “no victor and no vanquished,” but rather former opposing sides with differing views working toward a diplomatic solution that strengthens Syrian sovereignty through one army, one government and one state.
Agreement Follows Months of Negotiations
The dissolution follows months of difficult negotiations between Kurdish forces and the Syrian authorities. These talks followed an agreement signed by Abdi and Al-Sharaa on January 31, providing for the integration of Kurdish civilian, military and security institutions into the Syrian state.
The agreement followed military escalation during which the SDF withdrew from large Arab-majority areas to its stronghold in Hasakah province. Under the agreement, the Syrian authorities took control of facilities previously held by the Kurds, including Qamishli Airport and major oil and gas fields, while SDF fighters were to be integrated into Syrian army brigades.
Abdi said “the circumstances have changed today” and that Syria had entered a new phase centered on peace and participation in building a new Syria.
He said the dissolution decision came after reaching an agreement with President Al-Sharaa and completing the process of integrating SDF forces into Syrian army brigades.
Five days earlier, Abdi had announced that the process of integrating military, security and administrative institutions into the national state institutions had been completed, marking the beginning of a “new phase.”
Kurdish Language Rights
Addressing Kurdish rights, Abdi said the right to education in the Kurdish language was one of the most important rights the Kurdish people had sought for decades.
He added that Al-Sharaa had repeatedly affirmed the protection of this right and expressed an “open position” toward education in the mother tongue.
Before the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, Syria’s Kurds faced decades of marginalization and discrimination under successive governments. They were restricted from teaching their language, celebrating their holidays and practicing aspects of their traditions, while tens of thousands were stripped of their citizenship.
Amid the military escalation, Al-Sharaa issued a decree on January 16 recognizing the national rights of Kurds and recognizing Kurdish as an official language—an unprecedented step in Syria since independence in 1946.
The dissolution of the SDF marks the end of a significant chapter in the history of Syria’s Kurds, who had hoped to preserve the gains achieved during the years of conflict and establish a degree of self-rule, while the new authorities have consistently emphasized Syria’s territorial unity and the extension of state authority across the country.
Sources: (AFP) / (SANA)
