Damascus integrates SDF as Kurds trade territorial autonomy for political role

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser on Friday, 28 August, according to a decree published by the state news agency SANA. The appointment follows the official dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group that formerly controlled swathes of northern and eastern Syria with United States backing. The decree, signed by Sharaa, identifies the appointee by his formal name, Mustafa Khalil Abdi. The move is a direct consequence of an integration agreement brokered in January between the new Damascus administration and Kurdish leadership, effectively ending Kurdish aspirations for territorial autonomy in exchange for national recognition and political representation. Integration of Kurdish Forces On Tuesday, 25 August, Abdi confirmed the SDF had ceased to exist as a separate entity, stating the process of merging Kurdish fighters into the regular Syrian army brigades was complete. This military shift occurred after clashes earlier this year saw government troops reclaim significant territory, prompting the Kurds to seek a diplomatic settlement with the Islamist-led government that replaced Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. As part of the broader political settlement, President Sharaa previously signed a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language and enshrining the national rights of the Kurdish population. These concessions are unprecedented in the Syrian state’s history since its…