Developments are unfolding in Syria that could significantly alter the country's political and military balance. Attention has turned to the distribution of new positions in Damascus after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi announced that the SDF had been dissolved as an independent military force following the integration of its forces into the Syrian army.
Abdi announced on August 25 at the People's Palace in Damascus that the SDF's mission as an independent military structure had ended. Reuters reported that the decision came after an agreement with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the integration of SDF elements into the Syrian army.
Syria's official news agency SANA also published Abdi's statement and reported that the SDF had been dissolved as an independent military force after the integration process was completed. Abdi and his delegation also met with President al-Sharaa in Damascus. The meeting addressed integration into state institutions and the next steps in the process.
Abdi is expected to become an adviser
One of the most significant aspects of the development is the possibility that Mazloum Abdi will take up a position in Syria's new administration.
Plans call for Abdi to be appointed adviser to President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The advisory role could cover the Kurdish issue or relations with Syria's different communities, while the precise responsibilities and powers could be defined by a presidential decree.
However, the Syrian Presidency has not officially announced Abdi's appointment as an adviser. The Associated Press also reported on August 26 that Abdi and Ilham Ahmed were expected to receive important roles in the government, but that Damascus had not yet officially announced the positions.
The definitive claim that Mazloum Abdi has been appointed as al-Sharaa's adviser therefore goes beyond the official information currently available.
Assembly role also planned for Ilham Ahmed
As part of the talks, Ilham Ahmed, one of the leading figures in the administration of North and East Syria, is also expected to be appointed to the Syrian People's Assembly through the presidential quota.
Possible roles for Ahmed in the Assembly include responsibilities related to diplomacy or foreign relations, as well as a role in constitutional processes.
Tom Barrack, the United States special envoy for Syria, also referred to plans to give Abdi and Ilham Ahmed important roles in the new administration.
SDF dissolution changes the balance
The developments represent a historic transformation for the SDF, which had controlled a significant part of northeastern Syria for years.
With US support, the SDF played an important role in the fight against ISIS and controlled a large area of northeastern Syria for many years. Under the new agreement, its fighters will be integrated into the Syrian state's military structure and the SDF's independent military organization will be ended.
The process is not limited to military integration. The talks also address issues including Kurdish-language education, the transfer of civilian institutions in the region to the central administration, and the representation of Kurdish political actors in state institutions in Damascus.
If Mazloum Abdi's potential appointment as an adviser goes ahead, it will be more than a personal appointment. It will be one of the most symbolic steps in the transformation of the SDF from an armed, independent structure into a system in which its representatives assume political roles within the central Syrian state.
