Inside Story
What’s behind the SDF’s deal with Damascus?
The Syrian Democratic Forces announces its dissolution after merging with Syria’s army.
Founded in 2015 at the height of the Syrian war, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has officially dissolved.
The SDF has integrated with the Syrian army, following a deal with Damascus.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4President Ahmed al-Sharaa: Syria seeking security deal with Israel
- list 2 of 4Iraqi Kurdish regional leader meets Syrian president in Damascus
- list 3 of 4Kurdish-led SDF announces dissolution after merging with Syria’s military
- list 4 of 4Kurdish-led SDF has dissolved, but has Syria really unified its military?
The group’s thousands of fighters controlled large parts of northern Syria.
But after the regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed in December 2024, the army launched an offensive in the region.
The SDF lost much of its territory – and agreed to merge with the national armed forces.
So, what does the deal between Damascus and the SDF mean for Syria after the fall of al-Assad?
Presenter: Frankie McCamley
Guests:
Noah Bonsey – Senior adviser at the International Crisis Group
Yusuf Alabarda – International security and politics analyst
Kenneth Katzman – Senior fellow at The Soufan Center
