Syrian Democratic Forces to become part of Syrian army, commander says

The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, announced on October 10 that the SDF will become part of the Syrian army.

Speaking during a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of the SDF’s founding, Abdi said that a military committee representing the forces will travel to Damascus soon to begin discussions on the process of integration.

“Within the framework of coordination, we will continue to fight against ISIS across all Syrian territory,” he added.

The announcement follows a statement earlier this week by Syrian Defence Minister Marhaf Abu Qusra, who on October 7  declared a truce and immediate ceasefire along all contact lines between the Syrian army and SDF forces in northern and northeastern Syria. The ceasefire decision came after his meeting with Abdi in Damascus.

Following the March 10 agreement between al-Sharaa and Abdi, Damascus and the Autonomous Administration established joint committees to implement the accord’s provisions. The agreement called for integrating civil and military institutions in northern and eastern Syria, guaranteeing Kurdish constitutional rights, facilitating the return of displaced persons, and ensuring the participation of all Syrians in the transitional process. It also included commitments to reject partition and to combat remnants of the former regime.

Although negotiations between the two sides have continued openly since the March agreement, progress has been hampered by persistent disagreements. The Autonomous Administration has insisted on preserving the SDF’s distinct structure within the Syrian army, a proposal rejected by Damascus.

Another key dispute centres on the future governance model: the Autonomous Administration advocates for a decentralised state, while the Syrian government remains committed to maintaining centralised authority.

By Tamilla Hasanova