Kurdish-led forces in Syria dissolve after merging with the army

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), once a crucial U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, have officially dissolved as an independent military entity. The group's leader, Mazloum Abdi, announced the merger with the Syrian army as part of a deal with the new Damascus authorities, marking a significant shift in the region's political and military landscape.

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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.

Abdi declared the end of the SDF's mission in a televised speech, 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 described the moment as historic, aiming to transition from conflict to reconstruction and peace. The SDF had previously lost territory in northeast Syria to a Damascus offensive and subsequently agreed to integrate with the government forces.

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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.

The dissolution follows a period of warming ties between Syria and the United States. The U.S. recently removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that had imposed severe economic restrictions. This move signals a potential new chapter in international relations for Syria, particularly under the new interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

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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.

Culturally, Abdi highlighted assurances regarding the "preservation of our right to education in the Kurdish language," indicating a commitment to implementing Kurdish-language education. He expressed a vision for a "new Syria for all its people, the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, and Assyrians, a unified and stable Syria that protects the future of its children and ensures a dignified life for its youth."

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preservation of our right to education in the Kurdish language