Kathmandu— The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced its dissolution on Tuesday, merging its forces with the Syrian military in a move hailed by Damascus as a step towards restoring sole authority over the country. The announcement follows months of negotiations and a shift in power dynamics influenced by both a government offensive into SDF-held territory and evolving relations between Syria and the United States, formerly the SDF’s main backer. While the dissolution marks the end of the largest organized military force independent of the Syrian government, experts warn that genuine integration will require more than just an announcement, with key questions remaining about command structures, deployment, and addressing Kurdish concerns.

A Boost for Damascus

The SDF’s dissolution represents a significant victory for the Syrian government, which has long sought to reassert control over all of its territory. Navvar Saban, a researcher in security and military affairs at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, explained that the move allows the state to begin “the process of restoring a single military command and unified control over the border, airports, and strategic resources.” The SDF emerged in 2015 and controlled much of northeast Syria, home to a significant Kurdish population.

Challenges to Full Integration

Despite the formal merger, substantial obstacles remain. Saban noted that incorporating SDF fighters into the Syrian army and integrating affiliated security forces into the Ministry of Interior is just the first step. “The formal merge has been completed, but creating a unified military culture and chain of command will take much longer,” he said. A key unresolved issue involves the deployment of former SDF fighters and whether they will report directly to Damascus or remain under more local control. Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer on security studies at King’s College London, highlighted that the SDF's dissolution is linked to diminishing US support, stating it “is part of an ongoing trend of the SDF losing its leverage in Syria, simply because the US has signalled that [the SDF] no longer has protected status from the US”.

Kurdish Concerns and Compromises

The integration process is also complicated by lingering mistrust between Kurdish communities and the Syrian government, stemming from a history of conflict. While President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged constitutional protections for Kurdish language and political rights, many Kurds remain cautious. Alexander McKeever, author of the newsletter This Week in Northern Syria, noted that Arab communities may welcome the return of central governance, while Kurdish communities are likely to be more reserved. A particular point of contention has been the future of the SDF’s Women Protection Units (YPJ), with initial government proposals to integrate them into the Interior Ministry rather than the Defence Ministry.

Negotiating a Path Forward

The YPJ had initially sought integration into the Defence Ministry, but the Syrian government argued its existing structure did not accommodate female-only units. The YPJ then proposed joining the Interior Ministry as a specialized counterterrorism unit. While no final decision on the YPJ’s fate has been announced, McKeever described this as “a significant compromise for the government”, which had previously opposed women in combat roles. Geist Pinfold suggested that US pressure likely played a role in securing concessions from the Syrian government.

The dissolution of the SDF marks an important development in Syria’s ongoing efforts to consolidate control, but achieving true military unity and addressing the concerns of all communities will require sustained effort and compromise.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.