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SDF Dissolves After Merger With Syrian Army

Control of security, borders, major oil infrastructure has moved to Damascus, reshaping Kurdish autonomy.

The Syrian Democratic Forces were formed in 2015 at the instigation of the United States, impressed by Kurdish fighters and seeking a partner in the battle against the jihadists of the Islamic State group
A boy walks past murals depicting Kurdish YPG and YPJ fighters battling Islamic State militants in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)
A flag bearing Kurdish colors flies above a building marked "Kurdistan" as traffic moves through an intersection in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)
Residents carry bags of leafy greens past produce stalls at a market in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)

Overview

  • SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced the group's dissolution on Tuesday, saying its forces have been merged into Syrian army brigades under a phased integration deal.
  • Reporting from multiple outlets says roughly thousands of SDF fighters have been absorbed into new army formations while the status of many other combatants remains unresolved.
  • Damascus has taken over key northeastern oil and gas fields and incorporated local civil institutions and employees into national ministries.
  • The fate of the SDF’s all-female Women’s Protection Units is disputed, with Damascus resisting intact female combat formations and proposing partial moves into civilian security roles.
  • The move follows a shift in international ties toward Damascus and will reshape daily life for Kurds in the northeast by transferring security, pay and command to central authorities while leaving political and implementation questions open.