Syrian President Appoints Former Kurdish Commander as Adviser

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed Mazloum Abdi, the former commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a presidential adviser. The SDF, which Abdi led for over a decade, played a significant role in fighting the Islamic State and securing large areas of northern and eastern Syria. These territories and their institutions were a focal point for integration discussions after the previous Syrian government was ousted in late 2024. Following a Syrian government offensive in January, a plan was established for the SDF to merge with Damascus-based authorities. Abdi publicly announced the formal dissolution of the SDF earlier this week, marking what he described as a new era of peace and participation. The exact nature of Abdi's advisory role remains unclear. The integration process includes incorporating SDF fighters into the Syrian Defence Ministry. In a related development, Sipan Hamo, a prominent Kurdish commander, was appointed deputy defence minister after suggesting Israeli airstrikes against Syrian troops during earlier fighting, and subsequent to the integration agreement. The fate of female SDF fighters, who are not mirrored in the Syrian armed forces, is still under consideration. Turkey, an ally of President Sharaa, has expressed approval of the SDF's dissolution, having previously alleged ties between the group and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).