What happened
Syrian Kurds are facing an uncertain future as the US military presence in the region recedes and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dissolves. The US is scheduled to withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq by September 30, 2026, under a 2024 agreement with Baghdad to end the coalition mission against the Islamic State.
The withdrawal affects Syrian Kurds, who have relied on coalition operations based in Iraq for support against ISIS. The SDF, which had protected the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northeastern Syria, has been dissolved and its fighters integrated into the Syrian army.
The dissolution of the SDF has raised questions about the fate of Kurdish institutions and the future of Kurdish autonomy in Syria. Kurdish discontent with integration has grown, with anger rising over issues such as fuel prices and the abduction and killing of a Kurdish former SDF fighter.
Turkey has a significant military presence in Syria and has attacked Kurdish-held areas directly. The Turkish government has long claimed that the SDF was dominated by Kurds aligned with the PKK, which waged an insurgency against Turkey.
The US withdrawal from the region has left Syrian Kurds exposed to attacks and the loss of autonomy, with no independent army to protect them from threats from ISIS, Turkey, Turkish-backed militias, and their own government in Damascus.
