The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led alliance that controlled large parts of northern Syria since 2015, officially dissolved and agreed to integrate into the Syrian Arab Army under a deal with Damascus on August 25-26, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced the move at a ceremony in Damascus, calling it "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" [2]. The SDF emerged in 2015 and controlled primarily Kurdish regions in northern Syria before losing much territory following a Syrian government offensive that began after Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell in December 2024 [2, 3].
The Syrian government launched the offensive to regain control across northern Syria, which led to the SDF's territory shrinking drastically [2, 3]. Previously resistant to disarmament and integration, the SDF altered its stance as international support shifted, including reduced backing from the US [2].
Turkey welcomed the SDF dissolution as a key step toward regional stability and Syrian unity. Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, said, "An important threshold was passed in terms of strengthening Syria's internal unity with the dissolution of the SDF" [1]. Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz added, "We want a stable Syria... under a single state and within a single army," emphasizing inclusion of all ethnic identities [5]. Turkey views the move as aligned with its goal of a terrorism-free region and supports Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity [1, 4, 5].
The UK also welcomed the SDF dissolution as a positive step. Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, called it "an important step towards a peaceful, stable, and unified Syria," reaffirming UK support for Syria's sovereignty and readiness to assist the government [6].
Peace talks continue separately between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey sees connected to the SDF. The PKK announced plans to disband last year, following calls by its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan to disarm and dissolve [1]. Turkey maintains thousands of troops in northern Syria and says withdrawal will come only after security threats are eliminated [1].
Experts say completing the SDF’s full military integration into the Syrian armed forces remains a complex and ongoing process [2]. The SDF existed for over a decade, between 2015 and 2026, during a larger conflict linked to the PKK insurgency that has lasted since 1984 and caused over 40,000 deaths [2, 3, 1].
The formal dissolution and merger mark the latest significant shift in northern Syria’s control and governance. The UK plans to further discuss support for Syria’s sovereignty at the UN Security Council on August 27-28, 2026 [6].
