As SDF disband in Syria, Kurds ponder how to secure their rights

What the report says

The merger of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s government forces last month has triggered debate among Kurds in Syria and across the region over whether their political, cultural and language rights can be protected without an armed wing. Al Jazeera reports from Erbil, Iraq, that the move followed months of talks and came after government forces expanded control in northern Syria earlier this year. The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration was also dissolved as part of the transition.

SDF leader Mazloum Abdi said the change was meant to move from conflict toward state-building, while Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has promised constitutional protections for Kurdish rights. Supporters of the deal say integration could allow Kurds to participate in shaping the new Syria through legal and constitutional means. Critics, however, argue that pressure from Turkiye and shifting US policy helped drive the decision and that it may weaken Kurdish leverage.

Turkiye views the YPG, a key SDF component, as tied to the PKK, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. The PKK decided to dissolve in May 2025 after jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan urged it to lay down arms. Some Kurdish figures told Al Jazeera that the developments could still offer a path to rights through political negotiation, but they warned there are no firm guarantees yet for Kurdish language, cultural recognition or representation in decision-making.

The wider issue matters because Kurds are spread across Syria, Iraq, Turkiye and Iran, and their status has long been shaped by regional power struggles. Al Jazeera’s reporting suggests the current moment may determine whether Kurdish demands in Syria are pursued through institutions or are further constrained by external pressure.