One of the main armed groups in Syria disbanded

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF), announced the official dissolution of the group after completing its integration into the Syrian armed forces. The SDF ceases to exist as an independent military structure.

Abdi stated this on August 25 at a press conference in the presidential palace in Damascus.

"We announce the end of the Syrian Democratic Forces' mission and their dissolution as an independent military force," he said.

According to Abdi, the SDF structures are fully integrated into Syrian state institutions. He previously reported that military and internal security units had entered the structures of Syria's ministries of defense and interior.

Thus, the unification process that lasted several months has concluded. On January 29, the Damascus authorities and the SDF signed an agreement to integrate Kurdish armed formations and their administrative structures into the Syrian state.

The SDF were the main US ally in Syria

The "Syrian Democratic Forces" were established in 2015 and consisted mainly of Kurdish formations, as well as Arab units. For many years, they remained the United States' main military partner in Syria in the fight against the terrorist group "Islamic State".

At the peak of their influence, the SDF controlled about a quarter of Syria's territory, including a significant part of the country's northeast and important oil and gas areas.

The situation changed dramatically after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 and the rise to power of new Syrian leadership headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

In January 2026, government forces launched an offensive against the areas controlled by the SDF. The Kurdish formations lost most of the territory they previously controlled, after which negotiations on integration with Damascus significantly accelerated.

Kurdish structures come under Damascus's control

Within the framework of the agreements reached, border crossings, oil facilities and a number of state institutions in the northeast of the country were transferred to the Syrian state. SDF fighters and internal security forces gradually moved into central authorities' structures.

Abdi had previously stated that the integration of military, security and administrative institutions is effectively complete. Now this process is formalized with the official dissolution of the SDF.

Also, the Kurdish side continues to seek ensuring its rights in the country's new political system. Abdi, in particular, stated that he expects constitutional guarantees for Kurds and the possibility of education in the Kurdish language.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa previously spoke in favor of recognizing the right of Kurds to learn their native language and restoring a number of cultural and civil rights.

The dissolution of the SDF means the actual cessation of existence of one of the most influential independent armed forces that emerged during the long civil war in Syria.

Based on materials from: Associated Press, SANA