Syrian Democratic Forces officially announce their dissolution in Damascus

On August 25, 2026, Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi announced the formal dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at the presidential palace in Damascus. This decision marks the end of the SDF as an independent military entity, following months of negotiations with the Syrian de facto government led by President Ahmed al-Sara. The announcement was delivered in both Arabic and Kurdish in the presence of various political and military officials.

The dissolution implements a comprehensive agreement signed in January 2026, which mandated the integration of Kurdish institutions into the Syrian state apparatus. As part of the same diplomatic effort, President al-Sara previously issued an executive decree recognizing Kurdish rights and the Kurdish language as a national language, a historic first since Syria’s independence in 1946. This development concludes the mission of the SDF, a group that served as the primary force in the international coalition's efforts to defeat the Islamic State.