The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declared a ceasefire deal on Friday (30 January) that foresees a phased integration of Kurdish forces with the state.
The sides announced the agreement after government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured swathes of northern and eastern Syria from the SDF this month, forcing the Kurdish forces to retreat into a shrinking territory.
The fate of the SDF, which once held a quarter or more of Syria, has been one of the biggest issues looming over the country since Islamist fighters led by al-Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad 14 months ago.
U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack, who has been closely involved in mediation efforts, declared the agreement "a profound and historic milestone in Syria’s journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability".
Under the agreement, forces that had amassed on front lines in the north would pull back and Interior Ministry security forces will deploy to the centre of the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli in the northeast, both held by the SDF.
The agreement includes the formation of a military division that will include three SDF brigades, in addition to the formation of a brigade for forces in the SDF-held town of Kobani, also known as Ain al-Arab, which will be affiliated to the governorate of Aleppo.
Governing institutions established by the Kurdish-led groups in the northeast are to be merged with Syrian state institutions.
Damascus and the SDF first struck an integration deal in March 2025, but made scant progress towards implementation before a year-end deadline, paving the way for government forces to go on the march.
Noah Bonsey, senior adviser with the International Crisis Group think-tank, said the deal was "a potentially historic turning point".
"It spares northeast Syria what could have been a really ugly military showdown. Implementation will be tricky. There are a lot of challenges ahead," he said, adding that he was waiting to see all the terms.
An SDF statement said the deal "aims to unify Syrian territory and achieve full integration in the region by strengthening cooperation between the concerned parties and unifying efforts to rebuild the country".
Syrian state-run broadcaster al-Ikhbariya published an almost identical statement, citing a government official.
A senior Syrian government official told Reuters the deal was final and had been reached late on Thursday night, and that implementation was to begin immediately.
The United States has been closely involved in efforts to mediate a deal between the sides for almost a year.
Kurds on high alert
The areas seized by Damascus this month have included Syria's main oil fields and important agricultural land.
The statements did not address control of the last remaining SDF-controlled border crossing to northern Iraq, known as Semalka. The Syrian official said the Syrian state would take over all border crossings.
The Syrian official said the military division in the northeast would include "groups from the SDF within brigades, alongside other brigades".
The official said fighters would join such brigades as "individuals" and the whole division would be under the authority of Syria's Defence Ministry.
There was no immediate response from the SDF to questions on the method of integration and the command structure of the brigades.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a...
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country ...
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday...
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to member states to urgently help plug a $100 million funding gap facing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warning it is close to "breaking point" after months of deep spending cuts.
The United States government has urged migrants living under temporary protected status (TPS) to seek permanent residency or prepare to return to their home countries, signalling a tougher approach to immigration policy.
Syria has dispatched a rescue team to Venezuela to support search-and-rescue operations following the deadly earthquakes that struck the country earlier this week, marking the first overseas deployment of Syrian rescue personnel.
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump's administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria, handing the White House another victory on immigration.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that unexploded ordnance remains a deadly threat across Afghanistan, with children accounting for around 80% of victims and about 50 people being killed or injured each month.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed neighbouring Iraq will hold a funeral procession next week for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, as preparations intensify for week-long ceremonies after the 86-year-old was killed in Israeli–U.S. air raids in February.
CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov has inspected security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as the regional bloc continues a long-term programme to strengthen one of Central Asia's most strategically important frontiers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment