A Turning Point in Syria: Kurdish Autonomous Rule Ends After 11 Years

General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced Tuesday evening that the organization will be dissolved and fully integrated into Syrian state institutions. The decision marks the end of the autonomous administration established by the Kurds in the region under American sponsorship.

The SDF was founded about 11 years ago and, over the course of its operations, became the main ground force in the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS in Syria. Beyond its military role, the forces’ control of the country’s northeast enabled the Kurds to establish an autonomous administration in the area, which had existed throughout the past decade.

But Syria’s balance of power has since changed. About seven months ago, after roughly two weeks of fighting, the forces were compelled to sign an agreement with Damascus from a position of weakness. During the fighting, the SDF lost most of the territory under its control to the army of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Now, the announcement of the organization’s dissolution effectively completes the process and ends its existence as an independent force.

In his statement, Abdi addressed the future of the country’s Kurdish population: "President al-Sharaa has stated on several occasions that he will protect our right to education in the Kurdish language. We will work to implement the decision on education during the current year."

The SDF commander presented the integration of the forces into state institutions as part of the aspiration to establish a unified Syria that includes all the groups making up its population: "We want to build a new Syria for all its people, Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens and Assyrians. A unified and stable Syria that protects the future of its children and guarantees them a life of dignity."