Kurdish-led forces in Syria dissolve after merging with army

US-backed force that battled Daesh absorbed into Damascus command structure

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.

After being Syria's most highly trained and organized paramilitary force for years, the SDF was promptly dropped by Washington in favor of the new US-friendly authorities in Damascus after the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

The Kurdish commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, described the move as part of a broader effort to restore security and stability as Syria rebuilds after decades of authoritarian rule and civil war.