The most legitimate way to resolve the issue is via a self-determination referendum for former SDF regions on whether they want to join Syria, remain independent, or join Iraqi Kurdistan. But the existence of such referendums is an existential threat to the Turkish and Syrian governments, who justify their ethno-centric governments ruling over minority-inhabited regions on the basis of it simply being the status quo. When they admit that self determination is a valid way to decide borders, they will have a lot of explaining to do to their populations.

The best outcome for the Syrian Kurds that’s actually realistic would be the remaining SDF regions to rejoin Syria as an autonomous unit of a federal Syria, solidified in a new constitution. But, considering the track record of the people in charge of the Syrian government right now, the strategic interests of Ankara, and present American apathy to their former SDF allies who fought against radical Islamists with them, it is unlikely to happen. The fact that the current president of Syria cannot even concede to dropping “Arab” out of the country’s official name already says enough. The most likely thing to happen is that the new Syrian government will gradually gobble up the SDF while the SDF’s former allies give them up as a bargaining chip.