Mazloum Abdi
Mazloum Abdi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kobani, Syria |
| Other names | Mustafa Abdi bin Halil, Ferhat Abdi Şahin, Şahin Cilo |
| Occupation | Military commander |
| Known for | Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) |
Mazloum Abdi is a prominent Syrian Kurdish military figure who holds the position of commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).[1][2]
According to reports from organizational media, Mazloum Abdi was part of the executive council of the Kurdistan Communities Union, the Syrian branch of the PKK, in 2013.[3] Under his command, the SDF formalized an integration agreement with the Syrian transitional administration on 10 March 2025, following his congratulations to Ahmed al-Sharaa upon his assumption of the transitional presidency.
Name
There is some inconsistency regarding Mazloum Abdi’s actual name. Turkish sources have identified him as Mustafa Abdi bin Halil, while he has also been known by several aliases such as Ferhat Abdi Şahin, Şahin Cilo, and Mazlum Abdi. In an October 2019 interview with The New York Times, he confirmed that "Mazlum Abdi" is his true name, which he also uses on his verified Twitter profile.
Former United States President Donald Trump addressed him as "General Mazlum."
Early life
Born in Kobani to Syrian Kurdish parents, Mazloum Abdi pursued studies in civil engineering at the University of Aleppo. He became affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Syria in 1990 and was detained by Syrian authorities on five separate occasions. During this time, he developed a close personal relationship with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Operating under the pseudonym Şahin Cilo, he held senior PKK positions while in Syrian exile during the 1990s and was instrumental in establishing PKK networks across Europe.
In 1997, he relocated to Europe and remained active in Kurdish political circles until 2003. Subsequently, he traveled to Iraq where he is reported to have taken part in military operations. By 2005, he had ascended to the PKK's high command. Between 2009 and 2011, he served on the special operations board of the People's Defense Forces (HPG). Around 2011–2012, the PKK assigned him to Syria to organize the People's Defense Units (YPG) within Kurdish-controlled areas amidst the intensifying Syrian civil war.
Military leadership during the Syrian conflict
In August 2014, he spearheaded talks in Sulaymaniyah involving the People's Defense Units (YPG), Iran, and the United States to establish a coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which led to a partnership with the US. Abdi played a pivotal role in defending Kobani throughout its siege from October 2014 to January 2015, choosing to hold ground despite recommendations from the US to retreat. Following repeated seizures of his family’s residence by ISIL and amidst intensified cooperation with the US Air Force, he authorized an airstrike on his own home. By 2019, as commander of the SDF, Abdi commanded approximately 70,000 fighters.
He has shown openness to working alongside the Assad regime within a federal framework that incorporates the self-governed region known as the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. On June 29, 2019, acting on behalf of the SDF, he endorsed a United Nations initiative aimed at eliminating the recruitment of child soldiers.
Interactions with Ba'athist Syria (2017–2024)
On April 25, 2017, airstrikes were launched by the Turkish Armed Forces targeting PKK positions in Iraq’s Sinjar Mountains and Syria’s Karachok Mountains. Abdi participated in inspection teams alongside officers from the United States Special Operations Command assessing these strike zones. On March 5, 2018, Colonel Robert Manning, spokesperson for the United States Department of Defense, reaffirmed US backing for General Mazloum and local Syrian security forces operating in territories reclaimed from ISIS. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Pentagon’s reference to Mazloum Abdi as a "YPG general," noting Turkey’s classification of him as a "most wanted terrorist." In July 2019, Abdi met with Virginia Gamba, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, signing a UN agreement representing the SDF.
As Operation Peace Spring commenced on October 9, 2019, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which included correspondence from Mazloum Abdi expressing readiness for dialogue and unprecedented compromises. During this operation, Abdi held command as chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Amidst the offensive, Trump engaged in ceasefire talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; after Russia and Turkey reached an accord in Sochi, Trump publicly recognized conversations with Abdi and conveyed gratitude.
Between October 26 and 27, 2019, the US-led Operation Kayla Mueller successfully eliminated ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi near Barisha in Syria’s Idlib Governorate. The SDF collaborated closely with US intelligence agencies over five months to track Baghdadi’s location. A senior American official credited General Abdi and the Kurdish-led SDF for their vital role and seamless coordination. Abdi disclosed that Turkey’s military buildup and subsequent incursion into northeastern Syria delayed the operation by roughly one month.
In an interview with NBC, Abdi elaborated on SDF intelligence strategies including infiltration into Baghdadi’s close circle and acquiring DNA samples through an operative who secured discarded underwear and blood specimens passed to the CIA. This evidence confirmed Baghdadi’s identity and prompted the raid. Foreign Policy identified Abdi as the sole non-American privy to detailed operational information.
On October 30, 2019, Syria’s Ministry of Defense called for direct negotiations with SDF General Command rather than individual members; Abdi clarified via Twitter that individual enlistment into the Syrian army was rejected to maintain SDF’s institutional integrity.
Following Turkey’s offensive in northeastern Syria, Abdi declared willingness to collaborate with both Syrian government forces and Russia to safeguard local populations against Turkish attacks. Consequently, Syrian troops entered Manbij and Kobani as part of efforts to deter further Turkish advances.
In October 2019, a group of US Senators proposed issuing a visa for Abdi to facilitate talks in Washington; this move was condemned by Turkey’s Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül who demanded his extradition on terrorism charges.
During President Erdoğan's state visit to the US on November 14, he returned Trump's letter and labeled Abdi as an adopted protégé of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Abdi affirmed Kurdish identity as an essential component of Syria's fabric while expressing willingness to engage constructively with Damascus. The SDF officially endorsed the Russia-Turkey Sochi agreement on October 27, 2019.
On April 28, 2020, a suicide truck bombing in Afrin claimed 53 civilian lives; Turkey attributed responsibility to the YPG. Both the Syrian Democratic Council and Abdi condemned this attack, attributing it instead to Turkish-backed factions.
By early 2022, Turkey revised its approach with Erdoğan suggesting potential meetings with Assad, sparking speculation about coordinated actions against the SDF.
In January 2022, Abdi emphasized that formal constitutional acknowledgment of both the Autonomous Administration and armed groups like the SDF is crucial; however, he noted Assad’s government remains unwilling at present. He stressed that international pressure is vital for advancement.
Following a bombing on Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue on November 13, 2022 that caused six fatalities—blamed by Turkish authorities on Kurdish separatists including PKK and elements linked to SDF—Abdi responded on November 22 by connecting the attacker to IS jihadists through familial ties but denied any SDF involvement. He advocated for reconciliation between Turkey and Syrian Kurds while pledging defense of territories under DAANES control. Furthermore, he criticized Erdoğan for favoring conflict over peace as a tactic during elections.
On November 26, 2022, Abdi announced suspension of anti-ISIS operations due to Turkish assaults damaging regional infrastructure. Additionally, rocket attacks targeted US-led coalition personnel stationed in Ash Shaddadi.
In July 2024, anti-Turkish protests erupted within northern Syrian areas under Turkish control; demonstrators attacked Turkish installations and civilians. Abdi condemned violence against Syrians in Kayseri and welcomed refugees fleeing into SDF-held zones to join efforts toward national unity.
By late 2024, Abdi warned that ongoing Turkish attacks coupled with diminished US support threaten SDF's ability to manage al-Hasakah prison housing around 12,000 ISIS detainees. He accused Erdoğan of seeking dismantlement of autonomous governance structures and forcibly displacing Syrian Kurds from border areas for Arab resettlement.
On January 16, 2025, Abdi held discussions in Erbil with Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani focusing on regional cooperation initiatives.
Collapse of the Assad Regime
Following the downfall of the Assad regime, Mazlum Abdi's role, endorsed by international actors, ignited discussions across the region. The United States and European nations regard the SDF as a stabilizing force in the area and support Abdi’s initiatives, whereas Turkey condemns the SDF due to its affiliations with the PKK and has issued threats of military intervention.
Amid the regime’s disintegration, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) seized Tell Rifaat and initiated operations aimed at Manbij, a crucial city in eastern Aleppo. On 2 December 2024, plans were underway by the SDF to relocate Kurdish internally displaced persons from Tel Rifaat and Shahba to territories under SDF control in Aleppo and northeastern Syria. Abdi emphasized ongoing efforts to guarantee safe passage for civilians. Manbij held strategic importance as the last SDF-held area west of the Euphrates, maintained with support from US forces. These maneuvers occurred alongside wider opposition advances moving from Idlib toward Homs.
The Dawn of Freedom operations room, affiliated with the SNA, justified their engagement with the SDF by citing attacks on opposition villages, while reaffirming their overarching objective of ousting Assad’s government. Warnings were issued to civilians residing in Manbij regarding safety concerns.
On 9 December, Turkish state media reported that SNA forces had taken control of Manbij; Abdi dismissed these claims as tactics of "psychological warfare" and "propaganda." According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, most parts of Manbij came under SNA control following the withdrawal of Manbij Military Council forces except for rear guard positions. Subsequently, an agreement brokered by the US led to the SDF’s withdrawal from Manbij.
After Manbij fell on 11 December, a ceasefire mediated by the US was established between SNA and SDF; however, hostilities continued, including skirmishes around Kobani countryside. The SNA declined requests to evacuate SDF fighters or civilians, executed detainees from opposing forces, and launched assaults near Tishrin Dam. The following week, the SNA announced termination of the ceasefire, although Turkey denied that such an agreement had ever been in place.
This offensive coincided with several Syrian rebel groups consenting to dissolve under Syria’s newly formed Ministry of Defense led de facto by Ahmed al-Sharaa. Notably, Mazlum Abdi did not attend this Damascus assembly.
Interaction with Post-Assad Transitional Government
Negotiations commenced in January 2025 between the HTS-led caretaker government in Damascus and the SDF aiming to incorporate Kurdish forces into state structures and resolve conflicts involving the SNA. Mazlum Abdi proposed that the SDF be integrated as a distinct "military bloc" within the Defense Ministry without disbanding it; however, Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra rejected this approach, setting a target date of 1 March for full integration and not excluding use of force if talks failed.
On 29 January, Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed president of Syria. The military spokesperson announced plans to dissolve all armed factions including both SNA and HTS. Al-Sharaa opposed federalist arrangements and urged Turkey to postpone planned operations against Kurdish groups to facilitate dialogue with Mazlum Abdi.
Following stalled negotiations, on 10 March 2025 Abdi and al-Sharaa reached an accord to integrate the SDF into governmental institutions. Al-Sharaa highlighted his commitment to a future ensuring rights and peace for all Syrians. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan endorsed this agreement but insisted that strategic assets such as airports, oil fields, and border crossings remain under Damascus’s authority—thereby limiting Kurdish autonomy ambitions. Turkey expressed cautious optimism pending implementation.
The deal sparked controversy amid concurrent mass atrocities committed by Syrian Armed Forces in Alawite regions, prompting criticism that al-Sharaa sought Western approval rather than advancing Kurdish interests. Abdi condemned these acts of violence and urged al-Sharaa to hold perpetrators accountable, warning that extremist factions aimed to provoke sectarian strife. The deadline for completing integration is set for late 2025.
The Kurdish National Council along with other organizations stated they were not informed about this significant meeting between al-Sharaa and Abdi. Nonetheless, joint operations between SDF and government troops targeting ISIS remnants are planned. Al-Sharaa pledged efforts against former regime war criminals. On 29 March, Abdi declared that the SDF would not fully comply with all transitional government directives due to insufficient representation within its leadership.
In an interview dated 16 October, Abdi confirmed consensus on a framework allowing the SDF to join the Syrian army as unified units under Defense Ministry regulations rather than being absorbed as individual soldiers.
See also
External links
- ↑ Williams, Holly (October 2018). "What remains to be done in the final phase of America's war on ISIS". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. CBS. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ↑ Smith, Hannah Lucinda (2019-10-24). "Senators call on Trump to invite Kurdish general Mazloum Kobani to Washington". The Times. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ↑ "'Rojava'da halk yönetimini resmileştirmenin zamanı geldi'". ANF News (in Türkçe). Retrieved 2025-03-12.