Kurdish SDF Dissolves, Merges Into Syrian Army: 'A New Phase of Peace'

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has officially disbanded as an independent military force, completing its integration into the Syrian army and marking a major shift toward national unity. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced on Tuesday that the group’s mission has ended and its fighters have been merged into brigades of the Syrian army, describing the move as a transition to “a new phase” defined by peace, stability, and the rebuilding of a new Syria [1]. The announcement follows the January 29 agreement between the SDF and the central government, which outlined the framework for incorporating the Kurdish-led forces into national institutions [2]. A Syrian presidential committee confirmed that the process is now moving “from the stage of understandings to the stage of actual implementation” [2].

The development comes amid parallel efforts in Turkey to address its own Kurdish militant issue. Turkey’s newly formed National Solidarity and Integration Coordination Council has established four sub-commissions, with sources indicating that imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan is widely expected to be assigned to the “Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Sub-Commission” [3]. While no official confirmation has been made, observers view his likely appointment as a key step in the country’s disarmament initiative [3]. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has promised that the “terror-free Turkey” process will soon open “a new period” of peace and stability, though no specific timeline has been provided [4]. Turkey’s Presidential Cabinet is also set to meet in the eastern district of Ahlat, with Erdoğan expected to hold talks with Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli on the ongoing disarmament process [5].

Meanwhile, Kurdish political figure Tuncer Bakırhan has suggested that the return of Kurdish fighters could begin as early as late September or October, urging the “solution process” to move into its implementation phase [6]. No official timeline has been confirmed by other parties, but the signals point to a coordinated push toward resolving long-standing conflicts across the region [6].