The announcement of the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces following the completion of their integration into the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the formation of four military brigades has received widespread coverage in media and political and analytical circles among Kurds and Arabs. This transformation has been described by some observers as one of the most important events in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024.
Consolidation of Kurdish Presence in the Syrian Government
Tarik Hamou, a writer for the Kurdish Studies Center in Germany, believes that this transformation could help consolidate the presence of Kurds in the structure of the Syrian government, reduce tensions, and transition the country from armed conflict to reconstruction and institution-building. Mazloum Abdi, an advisor to the Syrian presidency, has also emphasized this point.
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Among the reactions expressed, the positions of Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and Tom Barak, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria, have been particularly significant. Barak welcomed the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the structure of the Syrian central government in a message on social media platform X, describing it as the transfer of Washington's partner to a national and unified framework.
Cooperation and Diplomacy in the Integration Process
Barak emphasized that real integration should not be based on a victor and vanquished relationship, but rather should result from cooperation among parties that have previously been in opposition to each other. Nechirvan Barzani also welcomed the developments in Damascus, considering the progress made in the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces as an important step towards strengthening security and stability in Syria, and urged all Kurdish parties and other components of Syrian society to support this process.
From the author's perspective, U.S. support as a key player in the Syrian issue, along with the support of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, alongside the positive positions of Turkey and some Arab countries, has created a set of regional and international factors in support of the integration process.
The Syrian Democratic Forces played a crucial role in ensuring security and preventing the spread of internal conflicts during the years of war against ISIS, with the liberation of Raqqa and resistance in Kobani being among the events where these forces had a key role. Mazloum Abdi and other leaders of these forces have emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity of Syria and achieving internal solutions, stating that the Syrian Democratic Forces should be part of the new Syrian army.
Therefore, the end of the military activities of the Syrian Democratic Forces does not mean the end of the Kurdish issue in Syria, but rather a more challenging phase has begun, namely the political struggle to establish Kurdish rights within the legal and constitutional framework of Syria.
The note refers to the possibility of relying on the achievements made in Presidential Decree No. 13 and other official decisions. One of the most important issues raised in this context is the status of the Kurdish language in the educational system and cultural structure of Syria.
Alongside these issues, several unresolved cases still face the Syrian Kurds, including the return of refugees and residents of Afrin, Serê Kaniyê, Girê Spî, Raqqa, and parts of Aleppo province to their homes. These matters highlight the need to develop programs for the expansion of Kurdish language and culture education in cooperation with governmental institutions.
Specifically, the situation of hundreds of thousands of Kurds residing in central Syria must be addressed, and programs should be developed for the expansion of Kurdish language and culture education in collaboration with governmental institutions.
Ultimately, the recent developments regarding the Kurdish issue in Syria can be seen as part of a broader change in the approach of regional and global countries towards the status of Kurds in Syria. These changes could lead to the consolidation of Kurdish rights and also increase national cooperation towards peace and stability in Syria.
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