The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led coalition that served as a primary partner for the United States in the campaign against ISIL, has officially ceased operations as an independent military organization. Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the group, confirmed the dissolution during a televised address from the presidential palace in Damascus on Tuesday evening, marking the conclusion of a decade-long conflict.
This move follows a formal agreement to integrate the SDF into the Syrian national army. The transition comes after the force lost the majority of its territory in northeastern Syria during a government offensive earlier this year in January. Abdi described the merger as a pivotal 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.”
The political landscape in Syria has shifted significantly since the December 2024 ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad. The current interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa—the former opposition leader who spearheaded the movement against al-Assad—has established strengthened diplomatic ties with Washington. This realignment was further underscored when the United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism just one day prior to Abdi’s announcement, effectively lifting long-standing economic sanctions.
Addressing the nation, Abdi emphasized a desire to move beyond the era of armed conflict. “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 stated. He further outlined a vision for a unified country, noting, “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.”
Cultural and educational reforms are also part of the new arrangement. Abdi confirmed that al-Sharaa has formally recognized the right to education in the Kurdish language, with plans to implement these programs within the current year. Reflecting on the broader implications of the merger, al-Sharaa remarked that the nation is moving past a “dark stain” to focus on development and reconstruction, signaling a definitive end to a painful chapter in the country’s history.
