Mazloum Abdi named Syrian presidential adviser

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as an adviser to the presidency, according to a decree published by state news agency SANA.

The decree named him as Mustafa Khalil Abdi. Abdi, who has used several names, led the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a Washington-backed group that fought the Islamic State group.

The appointment came days after Abdi announced the SDF's dissolution under a deal reached with Sharaa in January to integrate Kurdish forces and the Kurdish civilian administration into the Syrian state.

Abdi said the SDF's dissolution followed “the completion of the process of integrating our forces into the brigades of the Syrian army”.

Sharaa's authorities, which toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, have sought to extend state control across Syria. The integration deal was a major gain for Sharaa and ended long-held Kurdish hopes for autonomy.

US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack welcomed the move on Tuesday, saying it showed “real integration” and that giving Abdi and other Kurdish partners substantive government roles respected their leadership and contribution to regional stability.

Abdi said last week that integration of the Kurdish administration with the Syrian state was complete and that the Kurdish struggle would continue to secure rights in the constitution.