The Decline of Kurdish Autonomy in Syria

This week, elements of the Syrian Interior Ministry entered Qamishli, marking the effective end of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which had governed northeastern Syria for nearly a decade. This development signifies a significant achievement for the Islamist authorities in Damascus, as they aim to centralize Sunni Arab governance in Syria. Following an agreement, the integration of AANES institutions under Damascus’s authority is underway, avoiding direct conflict. This shift reflects a historic change in Syria’s sectarian balance towards Sunni Arab dominance, while the Kurdish control has been effectively dismantled.