Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi announced on August 25, 2026, the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This powerful Kurdish-led military had defeated the Islamic State group. The announcement came after a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace in Damascus.
Additionally, Abdi declared in a speech: “We announce today the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces. We declare, in all responsibility, their dissolution as an independent military force.” According to Syrian state television, the announcement also includes the dissolution of the autonomous administration. All military and civil structures will be fully integrated into Syrian state institutions.
This decision follows months of negotiations between the two sides. A January agreement had called for the complete integration of Kurdish institutions into the state apparatus. Since taking power in December 2024, President al-Sharaa has worked to reunify the country. Syria had been fragmented by a long civil war. He also aimed to dismantle armed groups.
The SDF were formed in 2015 at the initiative of the United States. At their peak, they had about 100,000 fighters, both Kurds and Arabs. They controlled vast areas of northern and northeastern Syria, including oil-rich regions. They also fought against ISIS, supported by the US-led coalition.
US special envoy Tom Barrack praised the decision on X as “absolutely historic.” He stated it “resembles a true integration aimed at strengthening Syria’s sovereignty.” This announcement comes a day after the United States removed Syria from the list of states accused of supporting terrorism. That was a major step toward economic recovery.
Abdi emphasized that “the right to education in the Kurdish language is one of the most important rights that our Kurdish people have demanded for decades.” President al-Sharaa had signed a decree in January recognizing Kurdish as a national language. This was an unprecedented step since Syria’s independence in 1946.
According to experts, the dissolution marks the end of an era for Syria’s Kurds. They had long dreamed of autonomy. The Kurdish population in Syria is estimated at about 2 million out of a total population of 20 million.
Reference
Le Monde, “En Syrie, les Kurdes annoncent la dissolution de leurs forces armées,” published August 26, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/08/26/absolument-historique-en-syrie-le-chef-des-puissantes-forces-kurdes-annonce-leur-dissolution_6756696_3210.html