A senior commander in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Sunday that the formal dissolution of the SDF and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), along with the termination of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, will be officially announced within days.
Speaking to Türkiye Gazetesi, Mahmoud Barkhadan, commander of the Ain al-Arab (Kobani) Brigade, said that 99 percent of the matters related to integration into the Syrian Army and state institutions have been settled. He added that the forthcoming declaration will formally conclude the Autonomous Administration’s structure and dissolve both the SDF and YPG. “We will build the new Syria hand in hand, within the framework of one army, one state, one flag, and a shared homeland,” he said.
Barkhadan stressed that the integration of SDF units into the Syrian Army is, in principle, complete and irreversible. “We have buried our weapons,” he said. “From now on, we will continue as an organic component of Syria—part of one army, under one flag, bound by shared values and ideals.”
He emphasized that the political track must accompany the military one, placing responsibility on the Syrian government to draft an inclusive constitution that protects the rights of all citizens. “This is not a matter for Kurds alone,” he said. “A national framework must account for Turkmens, Arabs, Assyrians, Yazidis, Armenians, Druze, and Alawites. The Ba’ath era has ended, and its mindset must be eliminated entirely. We remain sincerely committed to the agreement of January 29, 2026.”
Barkhadan said the next phase will include the full transfer of public institutions and oil fields to Syrian state authorities, in parallel with military integration. Addressing the broader social landscape, he said that “the principles of coexistence are taking shape from multiple angles,” adding that “Kurds are, at their core, a Muslim society, and the framework of the Islamic nation in Syria or in the regions where we live does not trouble any Kurd.” He continued: “This is our natural social structure. Whether in Syria or elsewhere, our continuity depends on this path—one flag, one state, one homeland, one army.”
Throughout the interview, Barkhadan reiterated that the SDF has no aspirations for an independent state and has never claimed otherwise. “To suggest, for example, that Kobani (Ain al-Arab) would become an independent state is sheer madness that defies logic,” he said.
On the specifics of integration, Barkhadan confirmed that “10,000 SDF fighters have already merged into the Syrian Army, a number that may eventually reach 12,000.” He dismissed earlier estimates of a 70,000–100,000-strong force as inaccurate. He also noted that “there are currently no individuals of Arab origin remaining in our ranks, except perhaps a few in the Qamishli–Jazira region.”
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
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