The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced their dissolution following the completion of their integration into Syria’s armed forces under an agreement with the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking a significant development in the country’s post-conflict transition.
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi announced the move in Damascus, saying the merger ends the group’s role as an independent military force. The agreement includes recognition of Kurdish cultural, civil and educational rights, including education in the Kurdish language.
“Today, we stand at a historic moment in which we turn an important page in Syria’s history and begin to open a new page titled peace, stability and reconstruction,” Abdi said in his address.
“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 said.
The SDF had “carried a heavy responsibility during one of the most difficult periods in Syria’s history”, he said. But circumstances have now changed, with the country entering a new phase of peace.
Therefore, “we announce the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces and announce with full responsibility its dissolution as an independent military force”, he said.
Key developments:
- The agreement recognises Kurdish cultural and educational rights.
- US envoy Tom Barrack welcomed the integration and credited President Donald Trump with supporting the process.
- Questions remain over implementation in northeastern Syria and future governance arrangements.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) emerged in 2015 as a Kurdish-led coalition that became the principal local partner of the United States in the campaign against ISIL (ISIS) in Syria.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024 and the formation of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration, the balance of power shifted, leading to negotiations aimed at integrating former armed groups into state institutions as part of wider efforts to reunify the country after years of conflict.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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