Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stated on Sunday that the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should pave the way for a secular, civil, and decentralized state that guarantees equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

In an interview, Abdi revealed that he recently met with Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Damascus. He noted that negotiations, mediated by members of the US-led coalition—including the US, Britain, and France—are ongoing to determine Syria’s future, particularly regarding the status of the Kurds.

Abdi emphasized that the SDF envisions a united Syria with a central government in Damascus but structured as a decentralized democracy that respects the rights of all its religious and ethnic communities. “Syria is mixed and is not made up of Sunnis only. There are other identities,” he said, dismissing concerns that hardline Islamist groups might seek to impose a religious state.

Regarding the future of the SDF, Abdi clarified that his forces do not intend to break away from Syria or form an autonomous government similar to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Instead, they seek to manage their own local affairs within a decentralized system. While most former insurgent factions have agreed to integrate into Syria’s new security forces, the SDF has yet to finalize such an agreement. Abdi confirmed that discussions are ongoing and that they have sent a proposal to Damascus regarding the SDF’s role in Syria’s defense strategy.

On the issue of security, Abdi stressed that the US military presence in Syria remains crucial to preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS). He warned that IS militants have exploited the instability following Assad’s removal to regroup and seize weapons abandoned by regime forces. “We hope that the coalition does not withdraw,” Abdi said. “We ask them to stay.”

As discussions between the SDF and Syria’s new leadership continue, Abdi reiterated that his group remains committed to dialogue and negotiation to shape Syria’s future.