Syrian president names former SDF chief Mazloum Abdi as presidential adviser
President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as an adviser to the presidency after the SDF dissolved under a integration pact with Damascus.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a decree appointing Kurdish commander Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser, according to state news agency SANA. The appointment comes days after Abdi declared the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a move tied to a January agreement that folds Kurdish militias and civil administration into the Syrian state. The deal, hailed by the new Islamist authorities that displaced Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, also included a decree recognizing Kurdish national rights and language.
U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack described the development as a model of real integration, while noting the importance of preserving Kurdish contributions to regional stability. Abdi stated that the integration of his forces into Syrian army brigades is complete, and pledged to continue fighting for Kurdish constitutional rights. The move signals a significant re-alignment of power in Syria’s north-east and a curtailing of Kurdish autonomy ambitions.
Why it matters
The appointment signals the Syrian government's consolidation of control over Kurdish regions and reshapes the balance of power in the country.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report the president’s decree appointing Mazloum Abdi, but left-leaning coverage focuses on the procedural integration of the SDF, while centrist coverage adds context about the new Islamist authorities and highlights U.S. endorsement of the integration as a model.
LEFT
Frames the appointment as a routine step in the SDF’s dissolution and integration into the Syrian military.
CENTER
Frames the appointment as part of a broader political shift under new Islamist authorities, emphasizing Kurdish rights and U.S. praise of the integration model.
The left emphasises
- the decree installing Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser
- the SDF’s dissolution and its integration into the Syrian military
- earlier Kurdish appointments and the ceasefire that placed northeastern cities under central control
How this story developed
- Aug 24 U.S. Moves to Remove Syria from Terrorist Sponsor List as Relations Warm
- Aug 25 The United States announced new decisions on Syria’s terrorism designations.
- Aug 25 Hay’at Tahrir al‑Sham assumed power in December 2024, installing Ahmed al‑Sharaa as president of Syria.
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