The General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has announced the dissolution of the SDF and the Self-Administration, alongside all affiliated military and civil formations, with their complete integration into Syrian state institutions. This marks an official end to one of the most prominent military and administrative entities formed during the Syrian war.
The announcement signifies the last stage of an agreement path between Damascus and the SDF, following months of negotiations and military, security, and administrative arrangements aimed at restoring northeastern Syrian institutions under the central government’s authority.
On August 21, Abdi had already completed the process of integrating the military, security, and administrative institutions of the Self-Administration into the Syrian state institutions, emphasizing a transition to the political work phase.
During a celebration marking 100 years of Qamishli's founding, he stated, "The integration stage of our military, security, and administrative institutions into the national state institutions has been completed and finalized."
This new announcement officially concludes the independent structure through which the SDF and the Self-Administration managed wide areas in northeastern Syria, encompassing the dissolution of military and civilian formations and their administrative institutions.
On January 29, 2026, the Syrian government announced a comprehensive agreement with the SDF, which included a ceasefire and the initiation of military, security, and administrative integration, alongside arrangements for the return of displaced persons and the restoration of state institutions to areas previously under Self-Administration control.
The agreement came after military operations by the Syrian army, which regained extensive territories in the east and northeast of the country, following accusations from Damascus that the SDF had failed to fulfill commitments from a previous March 2025 agreement.
With Abdi's announcement of dissolving the SDF and the Self-Administration, the issue transitions from a military and security file to a new political phase, focusing on how forces and individuals from the Self-Administration will participate in state institutions and Syrian political life.
This development also opens the door to reshaping the security and military landscape in the country's northeast, particularly concerning the deployment of army and security forces, border management, and control of critical facilities, oil, and gas fields.