U.S. bill emphasizes the strengthened role of the SDF in any future settlement in Syria

A committee in the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a draft bill stressing the necessity for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to remain part of any future political framework concerning Syria. The bill is included within the annual U.S. defense budget package, according to the Kurdish outlet “Rudaw” on Monday.

According to the outlet, the bill passed by the House differs from another version previously adopted by the Senate, which requires a joint session between the two chambers to agree on a unified text before submitting it to the U.S. President for final approval.

Rudaw explained that the bill outlines the features of the U.S. roadmap regarding the Syrian crisis and includes strong guarantees for the Kurds in both Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in addition to affirming the “continuity of assistance to the SDF.”

The bill also obligates the U.S. Department of Defense to publish annual public reports on the status of thousands of ISIS detainees held by the SDF, including assessments of detention facilities, efforts to repatriate prisoners to their home countries, and the potential risks of leaving the issue unaddressed.

The Syria-related provisions stipulate the continued assignment of U.S. forces to support the SDF as Washington’s primary partner in combating ISIS, as well as cooperation with local councils to enhance stability in areas liberated from the organization.

The bill extends authorization for U.S. assistance to “vetted Syrian opposition groups” until 2026, according to the outlet.

It also references a set of conditions expected of the Syrian government, including cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, ending the influence of foreign militias within state institutions, and implementing agreements signed with the SDF—among them the March 2025 agreement related to political and security coordination between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration.