Syrian Kurds Dissolve SDF and Join National Army as Druze in Suwaida Hold Out

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), active for nearly 14 years, announced their dissolution and integration into Syria's national army. SDF commander Mazlum Abdi declared the "end of the SDF as an independent force," handing the oil-rich northeastern territories they controlled to the central government under Ahmad al-Sharaa. The only minority region that has not yet submitted to Damascus remains Suwaida, home to a large part of Syria's Druze community.

The Druze: Syria's Last Holdout

The Druze make up about 3 percent of Syria's population and are ethnically Arab. Druze militias and threats from Israel have so far kept Syrian government forces out of Suwaida province. Experts now see the Kurdish capitulation as increasing pressure on the Druze. Atlantic Council senior fellow Omer Ozkizilcik noted that early in 2025, Druze religious leader Hikmat al-Hijri told him he coordinated daily with SDF commander Abdi, sharing a political vision of a decentralized Syria with autonomous regions.

End of the Decentralization Idea

With the SDF integration, the idea of a decentralized Syria loses its main proponent. Analysts suggest Damascus will now turn its attention to Suwaida, and international mediators may face renewed pressure to broker a deal between the Druze community and the central government before tensions escalate further.