Mazloum Abdi announces end of SDF mission; integration into state

Following a series of political, military, and security meetings held in Damascus since yesterday, as part of the implementation of the January 29 agreement between the SDF and the Syrian Interim Government, SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi issued a statement to the public.

In a statement from the People's Palace in Damascus, Abdi addressed the president of the Syrian interim government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian people, fellow citizens, comrades-in-arms, and the families of martyrs:

"Today, we stand before you at a historic moment, turning a significant page in Syria's history and beginning a new chapter of peace, stability, and nation-building.

Since its founding, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have shouldered immense responsibility during one of the most challenging periods in Syria's history. They liberated numerous Syrian cities and towns, first from Ba'athist rule and later from the terrorism of ISIS.

During these battles, our fighters, both men and women, offered the most precious thing they possessed: their lives. Thousands of martyrs sacrificed   themselves for sake of a secure future for the children of Syria.

Today, circumstances have changed, and the country has entered a new phase characterized by peace and participation in building a new Syria. Following the agreement with President al-Sharaa and the completion of the integration of our forces into the Syrian Army brigades, we announce today the end of the SDF's mission and, with full responsibility, its dissolution as an independent military force.

We will carry with us the memory of our martyrs and cherish their sacrifices in our hearts, for they did not fight for war, but for peace." A day will come when Syrians will no longer need to fight. We want that day to mark the beginning of a true transition from battlefields to construction sites, from an era of weapons to an era of peace, and from the stage of defending Syria to the stage of building Syria.

Regarding cultural rights and education in the Kurdish language, Abdi said: “The right to education in the Kurdish language is one of the most important rights that our Kurdish people have sought for decades. The President has declared on several occasions his commitment to upholding this right.

We have also witnessed his open stance regarding the right to education in one's mother tongue and the development of the current decision in the future. We will work to implement this decision this year so that we can build upon it in the near future.”

ANHA