Dissolution of the Kurdish-led SDF Sparks Questions Over True Military Integration in Syria

The recent announcement that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had dissolved, with its fighters merging into the Syrian military, marks a significant milestone for a government striving to prove its sole authority nationwide. However, analysts speaking to Al Jazeera note that complex details of military integration remain unresolved, highlighting that deep divisions from nearly 14 years of war and the subsequent 20 months following the fall of the al-Assad regime have not been fully erased.

Established in 2015, the SDF operated primarily in northeastern Syria, home to much of the country's historically marginalized Kurdish population. Despite prolonged negotiations, the group had previously resisted relinquishing the autonomy it secured during the conflict. On Tuesday, however, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, also known as Mazloum Kobani, announced from the presidential palace in Damascus that an important chapter in the nation's history had concluded.

"We want this day to be 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," Abdi stated.

Initial resistance by the SDF regarding disarmament and subordination to the Syrian Ministry of Defence shifted following a government-led offensive in the northeast last January, coupled with strong relations between Damascus and the United States, the SDF's primary international backer.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer on security studies at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the SDF’s dissolution reflects a broader trend of the group losing its leverage as the US signaled the end of its protected status.

Navvar Saban, a researcher in security and military affairs at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that this move ends the largest independent military force outside Damascus, enabling the state to reestablish a unified command over borders, airports, and strategic resources. Nevertheless, Saban emphasized that sustainable unity requires inclusive institutions and a unified national chain of command beyond a simple announcement.

Remaining Obstacles

According to Saban, military fighters are transitioning into the Syrian army under the Ministry of Defence, while the Asayish and other local security bodies are merging into the Ministry of Interior alongside civilian institutions. Yet, establishing a unified military culture and operational chain of command will require considerable time.

Apprehension persists among Syrian Kurds who recall a deadly recent conflict and harbor mistrust toward a government led by figures formerly associated with disbanded rebel groups, such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, whose predecessor, al-Nusra Front, once had ties to al-Qaeda. Furthermore, past clashes between these rebel groups and the SDF—which was occasionally accused of cooperating with the al-Assad regime—complicate the transition.

"Many Arab communities may welcome the return of the central institution, while Kurdish communities are likely to be more cautious," Saban said, stressing the need for guarantees concerning the Kurdish language, education, political representation, and local security.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to alleviate these concerns by pledging constitutional protections for Kurdish rights while insisting on integration within the wider state. Geist Pinfold suggested that behind-the-scenes pressure from the US likely compelled Damascus to concede to certain remaining SDF demands.

Disagreements persist regarding the SDF’s Women Protection Units, or YPJ. Senior SDF official Abdulkarim Omar noted earlier this month that while the YPJ sought to join the Defence Ministry, the government initially stated that the army structure lacked dedicated women's units, proposing instead an integration into the Interior Ministry as a specialized counterterrorism unit. Alexander McKeever, author of the newsletter This Week in Northern Syria, observed that this potential compromise breaks with the government's previous resistance to women in heavy security or combat roles. However, McKeever pointed out that broader debates regarding specific deployments, roles, and direct reporting lines to Damascus remain unresolved.