Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced the formal dissolution of the group as an independent military force during a televised address from the presidential palace in Damascus on Tuesday evening. The move follows a strategic merger with the Syrian national army, signaling a definitive end to the organization’s decade-long mission, which was primarily defined by its role in the campaign against ISIL.
The SDF, which previously maintained a de facto autonomous zone in northeastern Syria, entered into the integration agreement following a government offensive in January that resulted in the loss of most of its territory. Abdi characterized the transition as a historic shift, stating, “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.” He expressed a desire to move from the battlefield to reconstruction, describing the shift as a transition from the era of weaponry to an era of peace.
This political realignment follows the December 2024 ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad. Under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new government in Damascus has cultivated closer ties with Washington. As part of the reconciliation, Abdi confirmed that the state has officially recognized the right to education in the Kurdish language, with plans to implement these programs within the current year. “We want to build a new Syria for all its people – the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Assyrians – a unified and stable Syria that protects the future of its children and ensures a dignified life for its youth,” Abdi remarked.
The United States has signaled strong support for this integration. Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, credited President Trump’s “far-sighted leadership” for facilitating the orderly incorporation of the SDF into state institutions. In a post on X, Barrack noted that the move respects the sacrifices of Kurdish partners and promotes regional stability by integrating figures like Abdi and Ilham Ahmed into the Syrian government structure.
The dissolution announcement occurred just one day after the United States removed Syria from its list of “state sponsors of terrorism,” a long-standing designation that had imposed significant economic constraints on the nation. President al-Sharaa welcomed the development, framing it as a pivotal moment for the country to move past its history and focus on national development and reconstruction. This diplomatic shift underscores the evolving relationship between Damascus and the international community following the change in leadership. The report also notes that “We want this day to be the beginning of a true transition from the battlefields to the fields of construction and from the era of weapons to the era of peace,” he added. The report also notes that saying, “Syria shakes off a dark stain and tears away a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction and rebuilding.”, al-Sharaa hailed the move.