Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has officially appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as an adviser to the presidency. The appointment, confirmed by state news agency SANA on Friday, follows a significant integration deal that saw the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The presidential decree, signed by Sharaa, formally designates “Mustafa Khalil Abdi” to the advisory role. This transition marks a major shift for Abdi, who spent years commanding the Washington-backed SDF, the primary force that spearheaded the fight against the Islamic State in Syria.
Abdi announced the dissolution of the SDF on Tuesday, finalizing an agreement reached with the Syrian government in January. This deal sought to merge Kurdish military units and their civilian administration into the national state structure. The move comes as the new Islamist authorities, who rose to power after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, work to consolidate control across the country.
The integration process represents a strategic victory for Sharaa’s government, though it effectively ends long-standing Kurdish aspirations for regional autonomy. US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, praised the development, stating that it demonstrates “what real integration looks like” by allowing former adversaries to craft diplomatic solutions that strengthen the nation’s sovereignty. Barrack noted that providing substantive government roles to partners like Abdi honors their leadership and contributions to regional stability.
According to Abdi, the SDF’s dissolution followed the successful integration of Kurdish fighters into the brigades of the Syrian army. The SDF, established in 2015 with US support, became the de facto military force for the semi-autonomous administration in northern and northeastern Syria after the group’s pivotal victory against IS in Kobane. The decision to integrate followed military clashes in January that resulted in the loss of Kurdish-held territory to government forces, coupled with a shift in US diplomatic alignment toward the new authorities in Damascus.
During the period of instability, Sharaa issued a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language and enshrining Kurdish national rights—a historic development for the country since its 1946 independence. While the administrative integration is now complete, Abdi stated that efforts to secure constitutional rights for his people will continue. The report also notes that the sacrifices of our Kurdish partners, and the constructive contribution they have made to, securing substantive roles for our valued partners” including Abdi within the government “pays due respect to their leadership. The report also notes that which was impressed by the Kurdish fighters who had defeated IS in Kobane in the north and was seeking a reliable partner in the ongoing battle against, the SDF was formed in 2015 at the instigation of the United States. The report also notes that uS-backed Kurdish leader shifts from battlefield to palace amid power reshuffle. The report also notes that thousands flee as army shells Kurdish areas in Aleppo.
Regional Developments and Security Updates
- Syria-Israel talks: Diplomatic efforts are currently focused on preventing potential tensions with Turkey.
- Intelligence reports: The Israeli envoy confirmed that Israel received intelligence regarding Turkey’s strategic plans for Syria.
- Military incidents: Israel has officially blamed Turkey following a recent strike on a Syrian air base.
Source: Gulf News
