Syrian Kurds Finalize Civil and Military Integration into Damascus State Institutions

Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has officially announced the completion of the integration of Kurdish civil, military, and security institutions into the Syrian state. This milestone follows a January 2026 agreement with President Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration, which took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The integration marks the end of Kurdish administrative autonomy in northeastern Syria, shifting the focus of the Kurdish movement toward securing constitutional rights within a unified Syrian framework. The process involved the transfer of key infrastructure, including oil fields and Qamishli airport, to Damascus, and the appointment of Kurdish officials to senior government roles.

// Background

Following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, the new Syrian government under Ahmed al-Sharaa sought to centralize power. Initial clashes between the new authorities and the SDF in early 2026 led to the Kurds losing significant territory in oil-rich regions. To prevent further conflict, both sides entered a series of negotiations resulting in the January 2026 agreement that traded Kurdish autonomy for state-recognized national rights and political representation.

// Key Developments

• Formal completion of the integration of SDF military, security, and administrative branches into Syrian national institutions.
• Recognition of Kurdish as a national language and the enshrining of Kurdish national rights via presidential decree.
• Appointment of Kurdish officials to high-level state positions, including Sipan Hamo as regional assistant defense minister.
• Withdrawal of foreign Kurdish fighters from Iraq, Iran, and Turkey who had previously supported the SDF.
• Transfer of over 5,700 Islamic State (ISIS) detainees from Kurdish-run camps to Iraq by US forces.
• Damascus resumes control over strategic oil fields and the Qamishli airport.