Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has named the former leader of a disbanded Kurdish-led military group as a presidential advisor, signaling a reconciliation between the two historical foes from the civil war era.
For over a decade, Mazloum Abdi headed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which partnered with the United States to combat the Islamic State and gain control over parts of northern and eastern Syria in the pursuit of establishing a semi-autonomous region.
Following the removal of former president Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 by a rebel coalition led by Sharaa, the new Islamist-led government in Syria insisted on integrating SDF-run territories and institutions into the state framework.
Despite a year-long impasse in the integration process, a swift offensive by Syrian government forces against Abdi’s fighters in January paved the way for a plan to merge the SDF into the authorities based in Damascus.
Abdi recently announced the formal dissolution of the SDF, marking the beginning of a fresh phase focused on “peace and contributing to the reconstruction of the new Syria.”
His appointment as a presidential advisor was disclosed through a decree issued by Sharaa, although the nature of his role remains ambiguous.
Under Abdi’s leadership, the SDF and its associated bodies implemented governance models with co-chair positions held by both men and women to promote gender equality.
The SDF actively fought against extremist factions such as the Islamic State and the local branch of al-Qaeda, once led by Sharaa before his separation from the group.
As part of the integration process, SDF combatants are being absorbed into Syria’s Defense Ministry, including key figures who previously criticized the ruling Syrian government.
Questions remain regarding the incorporation of female SDF fighters into the country’s armed forces, which currently lack female personnel.
Turkey, a key ally of Sharaa, has expressed support for the dissolution of the SDF, which it has long accused of having ties to its banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant organization.
