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SDF dissolves in Damascus
Mazloum Abdi announced the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as an independent military force, saying, “We announce today the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces and declare, with full responsibility, their dissolution as an independent military force,” in a televised speech at the presidential palace in Damascus.
“We announce today the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces”
Abdi said the SDF had completed a merger with the Syrian army and would cease to operate as an independent force after losing most of its territory in northeastern Syria in January during a government offensive and then signing the deal to merge with the army.
The announcement came as the SDF had once been the main partner of the United States in Syria in its fight against ISIL (ISIS), but Washington formed close ties with the new government in Damascus led by interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Damascus, Ahmed Assaf, said the announcement represented “the end of the presence of the SDF as an independent entity,” after about a year and a half of negotiations between Abdi and the Syrian government.
Integration welcomed, implementation questioned
The Syrian presidential team responsible for following up on the implementation of the agreement welcomed Abdi’s completion announcement while stressing that “the political announcement differs from the completion of on-ground implementation arrangements.”
Researcher and political analyst Hasan Al-Dhghaim said Abdi’s statements advanced the process but that the reservation reflected a gap between statements and implementation, warning that practical arrangements were still needed to prevent parallel structures or practices from remaining within official institutions.
Journalist Akron Asaad said the proposed concept envisions SDF forces entering as brigades and military divisions within the new Syrian army, and he also said the internal security forces affiliated with the Autonomous Administration, known as Asayish, are expected to join the internal security apparatus of a single state.
Al-Dhghaim set a broader criterion for success, arguing that “the military and security forces, as well as the judiciary, fall under the central state authorities,” and he framed the practical test as the clarity of the military command chain and subordination of security institutions to the Ministry of Interior.
Constitutional rights and next steps
Abdi linked the merger to constitutional guarantees, saying the rights of Kurds will be written into the constitution and that they will comply with the laws of the Syrian state as part of the military, security, and administrative merger into Syrian state institutions.
“From now on, we begin a new phase”
At a celebration marking 100 years since the founding of the city of Qamishli, Abdi said, “From now on, we begin a new phase,” and he added that “Our struggle will continue, to cement our people's rights in the constitution.”
The integration includes the Internal Security Forces affiliated with the SDF, known as the Asayish, which are expected to join the Syrian Ministry of Interior, and it also includes civilian employees working in sectors including education, oil and gas facilities, dams, and others.
AzerNews reported that Abdi confirmed all non-Syrian Kurdish forces that had been assisting the SDF had withdrawn from the area, while noting that key questions remain over how the integration will be implemented in practice, including whether it will ultimately result in the dissolution of the SDF as a separate military structure.