Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi announced at a televised speech in Damascus that the SDF has been dissolved after integrating into the Syrian army as part of a January 29 agreement. The SDF, formed in 2015 with US support to fight ISIS, previously controlled a large autonomous zone in northeastern Syria before losing most of its territory in January. As part of the integration deal, Kurdish rights are being recognized and enshrined in the Syrian constitution, including granting citizenship to previously stateless Kurds. This marks a significant achievement for President Ahmad al-Sharaa's efforts to consolidate state authority across Syrian territory.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced on Tuesday that the SDF has been dissolved and integrated into the Syrian army. This move marks the end of the Kurdish-led force's existence as an independent military entity, which had served as a key partner for the US in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. The SDF was formed in 2015 with the support of the US to combat IS and at its peak controlled a vast autonomous zone in northeastern Syria, including parts of Damascus. Abdi made the announcement at the presidential palace in Damascus after meeting with President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The dissolution of the SDF is seen as a significant development, marking the end of an era for the Kurdish-led force that had once controlled a significant portion of northern Syria.
Written for “Syria Kurdish Force Merges” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 2417 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-27
Commander Mazloum Abdi announced the SDF's dissolution at the presidential palace in Damascus, ending the existence of the Kurdish-led force that served as Washington's main partner against the so-called Islamic State terrorist group.
asserted
that → announce → group
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dissolved on Tuesday after their commander announced the completion of their integration into the Syrian army, ending the existence of the Kurdish-led force that served as Washington's main partner against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria and once controlled a vast autonomous zone in the country's northeast.
"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," Mazloum Abdi said in a televised speech at the presidential palace in Damascus, following meetings with President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
asserted
Abdi → dissolve → Sharaa
The SDF was formed in 2015 at US instigation to fight the IS group, drawing primarily on the People's Protection Units, known by its Kurdish initials YPG, the main armed force of Syria's Kurdish community.
asserted
SDF → form → community
At its peak, the SDF controlled a de facto autonomous zone across much of northeastern Syria, including significant oil and agricultural land.
asserted
SDF → control → oil
Turkey regards the YPG as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK — designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, the EU, the UK and France — and has conducted multiple military operations against it inside Syria.
asserted
Turkey → regard → Syria
The integration is part of an agreement reached on 29 January, which stipulated a ceasefire and a gradual transfer of SDF-affiliated military and civilian institutions to Syrian state control, including border crossings, oil and gas fields, prisons and camps housing IS detainees.
asserted
which → reach → detainees
The SDF lost most of the territory it controlled in northeastern Syria to a Syrian government offensive in January before signing the deal.
asserted
it → lose → deal
After clashes in Aleppo in December 2025, it had already withdrawn from west of the Euphrates.
asserted
it → withdraw → Euphrates
On 16 January, al-Sharaa signed a decree guaranteeing Kurds' national rights, recognising Kurdish as a national language, declaring Nowruz an official public holiday, and granting citizenship to Kurds previously denied legal status.
asserted
Nowruz → sign → status
The US described the broader integration deal as "historic".
asserted
US → describe → deal
Abdi said the dissolution marked the beginning of "a genuine transition from battlefields to the fields of construction, and from an era of weapons to an era of peace."
asserted
dissolution → say → peace
He added that political efforts would intensify to ensure Kurdish rights were enshrined in the Syrian constitution.
asserted
rights → add → constitution
Another win for al-Sharaa
The dissolution is a significant achievement for al-Sharaa, who has been working since taking power after Bashar al-Assad's fall in December 2024 to consolidate state authority across all Syrian territory and integrate previously autonomous or rival armed factions under the Defence Ministry.
asserted
who → work → Ministry
Following Abdi's announcement, the Syrian authorities announced an agreement with "all armed factions" to dissolve them and integrate them under the ministry.
asserted
authorities → follow → ministry
The new Syrian army includes factions previously backed by Turkey that fought Kurdish forces for years, making the integration politically delicate.
asserted
integration → include → years
Turkey, which shares borders with Syria and has long sought to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish autonomous zone on its southern flank, has been closely watching the process.
asserted
which → share → process
PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali Island prison in Turkey since 1999 and communicates only through heavily restricted channels, said the SDF-Damascus integration agreement would "ease and accelerate" what he called the "Turkey without terror" process.
asserted
he → hold → terror
He described the situation in Syria as "a clear reflection of the need for democratisation" and called on Turkey to play a "facilitating, constructive and open to dialogue" role in the process.
asserted
He → describe → process
