Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has named the former leader of a disbanded Kurdish-led combat group as a presidential consultant, signaling a reconciliation between the two historic foes from the civil war era. Mazloum Abdi commanded the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for over ten years, cooperating with the United States to combat the Islamic State and seize territories in northern and eastern Syria. Following the removal of former president Bashar al-Assad by a rebel coalition led by Sharaa in late 2024, Syria’s new Islamist-led government emphasized the need to integrate SDF-controlled regions and institutions into the state.
The integration process faced delays until a swift offensive by Syrian government forces in January prompted an agreement to merge the SDF with the authorities in Damascus. Abdi declared the formal dissolution of the SDF, marking the beginning of a new era focused on “peace and contributing to the reconstruction of Syria.” His appointment as a presidential advisor was announced through a decree by Sharaa, although the exact nature of his role remains unclear.
Under Abdi’s leadership, the SDF and its associated entities implemented governance systems with male-female co-chairmanship to promote gender equality. They confronted extremist factions like the Islamic State and local branches of al-Qaeda, once led by Sharaa before his disassociation from the group. As part of the integration, SDF fighters are being integrated into Syria’s Defense Ministry, including prominent figures who previously criticized the Syrian government.
The issue of incorporating female SDF fighters into the country’s military, which currently lacks female personnel, is yet to be resolved. Turkey, a key ally of Sharaa, applauded the dissolution of the SDF, which it had long accused of connections to its banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant organization. Leading Kurdish commander Sipan Hamo, who had suggested Israeli airstrikes on Syrian forces during the January conflict, was subsequently appointed as deputy defense minister following the integration agreement.
