Syria’s president appoints ex-commander of Kurdish-led SDF as advisor

Damascus, Syria - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser, state media reported on Friday, following Abdi's announcement of the dissolution of his Kurdish forces under an integration deal with Damascus. The decree, signed by Sharaa and published by state news agency SANA, appointed Mustafa Khalil Abdi as adviser to the presidency of the republic.

Abdi, who has served as the leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for years, declared the SDF's dissolution on Tuesday as part of a deal he made with Sharaa in January. The integration deal aimed to incorporate the Kurds' forces and civilian administration into the state, a significant victory for Sharaa's new Islamist authorities. However, it marked an end to Kurdish aspirations for autonomy.

The US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, praised the integration as an example of real integration, highlighting the constructive contribution of Kurdish partners to regional stability. Abdi explained that the SDF's dissolution followed the completion of integrating forces into the Syrian army's brigades.

The SDF was established in 2015 with US support to combat the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria. Initially serving as the de facto army of the Kurdish-administered territories in north and northeast Syria, Abdi signed the integration deal after clashes in January resulted in the Kurds losing territory to government forces. In December 2024, following the defeat of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, Syria's new authorities sought to extend state control throughout the country.