Syrian Islamist rebel groups agree to disband and merge

Abu Mohammad al-Golani (left), Syria’s Islamist ruler and the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former leader of al-Nusra Front affiliated to al-Qaeda, with other Islamist groups, Syria, December 24, 2025. Photo: SANA/via Reuters

DAMASCUS,— Syria’s new Islamist leadership announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached to dissolve the country’s rebel groups and integrate their fighters under the Ministry of Defense.

However, U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces controlling Syrian Kurdistan, the Kurdish region in northeastern Syria, were not represented at the meeting, highlighting lingering divisions within the war-torn country.

The announcement, reported by Syria’s state news agency SANA and shared on government social media channels, followed talks between rebel groups and Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. “All groups have agreed to dissolve and operate under the Ministry of Defense’s supervision,” the statement said.

The developments come two weeks after President Bashar al-Assad fled the country amid a rapid offensive by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as al-Nusra Front affiliated to al-Qaeda.

On Sunday, al-Sharaa, who previously went by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, asserted the new government’s commitment to ensuring all weapons in Syria remain under state control—including those held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Last week, HTS’s military chief told AFP that areas under Kurdish control would be integrated into the new national framework, emphasizing, “Syria will remain unified.”

More than 13 years of civil war have left over 500,000 dead and fractured Syria into zones controlled by various groups, backed by competing international and regional powers.

SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami said the integration of Kurdish forces into Syria’s military should be “discussed directly.” He did not rule out the possibility, noting it could strengthen the nation. Shami added that his forces favor dialogue with Damascus to address unresolved issues.

Turkey’s ties with HTS have raised questions about Ankara’s influence in post-Assad Syria. Turkey has long opposed the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main SDF component, accusing it of links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency on Turkish soil for decades.

A regional expert advising Western diplomats in Turkey, speaking anonymously, noted that Ankara’s economic leverage is significant given its 560-mile border with Syria. The expert suggested Turkey may pressure HTS to act against Kurdish forces but added, “HTS is reluctant to engage.”

The situation’s trajectory also hinges on U.S. policy under President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office January 20. Trump recently stated, “Turkey will hold the key to Syria.”

Since late November, SDF forces have been locked in deadly battles against Turkey-backed Islamist mercenary fighters who launched an offensive alongside HTS’s anti-Assad campaign. On Tuesday, the SDF reported clashes east of Manbij, resulting in 16 fatalities among its ranks.

Syria’s Kurdish population, long marginalized under Assad, seized the war as an opportunity to establish semi-autonomous governance in the northeast, Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava). They were crucial allies to the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group.

Since Assad’s ouster on December 8, 2024, Kurdish leaders have expressed support for his downfall while calling for dialogue with both Damascus and Turkey.

In northeastern Syria, both the Kurdish flag and the independence-era three-star flag now used by the new authorities are visible side by side.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)