Syrian Democratic Forces integrate into Syrian state

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are being integrated into Syrian state structures after their leader, Mazloum Abdi, announced the move on Aug. 20, ending the force's role as the de facto army of the Kurdish autonomous administration in Syria.

The SDF was formed in 2015 at the instigation of the United States and became Washington's main local partner against the Islamic State group. It spearheaded the campaign that ended IS territorial control in Syria four years later.

At its peak, the force had about 100,000 fighters, including Kurds and Arabs, and controlled areas of Syria's oil-rich north and northeast. The integration follows January clashes in which Kurdish forces lost large areas to government troops and a subsequent deal to fold Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the state.

Syria specialist Fabrice Balanche said Arab fighters defected en masse after President Ahmed al-Sharaa's army took Raqa and Deir Ezzor, leaving the SDF with half its former strength. He said the SDF's core remains the People's Protection Units, or YPG, with about 30,000 members, as well as the Women's Protection Units.

Abdi did not describe the mechanism for integrating the SDF and Kurdish security forces. The January agreement says the SDF must expel all non-Syrian PKK leaders and members from Syria.

Abdi said thousands of Kurdish men and women from other parts of Kurdistan had supported the SDF, referring to areas of Iran, Iraq and Turkey. He said those forces withdrew at the SDF's request under a practical plan and that a new phase had begun in the region.

Turkey has long viewed the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK; the SDF denies links with the PKK. The PKK formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey in May 2025 after a call by its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.

International Crisis Group analyst Nanar Hawach said non-Syrian PKK-linked figures were limited in number but had significant influence in command and administrative roles, estimating them at hundreds to low thousands. Balanche said the PKK directs the YPG behind the scenes.