Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has appointed Mustafa Khalil Abdi, widely known as Mazloum Abdi, as an adviser to the Presidency of the Republic.

Al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 164 of 2026 on Thursday, formally appointing the former commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the presidential advisory position, according to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency.

The appointment comes shortly after Abdi announced the dissolution of the SDF as an independent military force and the completion of its integration into Syria’s state institutions. The move follows agreements between Damascus and the Kurdish-led force aimed at bringing military and civilian structures in northeastern Syria under central government authority.

Abdi had led the SDF for more than a decade. The group, which was backed by the United States in the fight against Daesh, controlled large parts of northern and northeastern Syria and operated alongside a Kurdish-led civilian administration.

The appointment is being viewed as a significant development in the relationship between Damascus and the Kurdish-led forces following years of political and military tensions.

Abdi announced earlier this week that the SDF had completed its integration into the Syrian army, saying the move marked a transition toward a new phase focused on peace and participation in rebuilding Syria.

Under the integration process, former SDF commanders and personnel are being incorporated into Syrian state institutions, although some issues, including the integration of female SDF fighters, remain unresolved.

The exact responsibilities of Abdi’s new advisory position have not yet been disclosed.

The appointment represents one of the clearest signs yet of Damascus seeking to incorporate former Kurdish-led authorities and military figures into Syria’s central state structures following years of separate administration in the northeast. (ILKHA)