Syria ceasefire: Syrian army takes control of key provinces from SDF
In a significant turn of events, the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached a ceasefire agreement, putting an end to the recent hostilities. Control over the provinces of Raqqa, Deir Az Zor, and Hasakah will now transition to the Syrian Army, while the SDF will be positioning itself east of the Euphrates River.
The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire deal on all fronts following nearly two weeks of deadly fighting. As part of the agreement, the Syrian Army will take control of the eastern and northeastern provinces of Raqqa, Deir Az Zor, and Hasakah, with all SDF affiliated forces withdrawing to the east of the Euphrates River. The SDF will be integrated into Syria’s defense and interior ministries after security checks, and all border crossings, gas, and oil fields in the area will be handed over to the Syrian government. The SDF has also committed to expelling non-Syrian leaders and forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) from outside of Syria’s borders.
This ceasefire follows a meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the United States special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, in Damascus. The deal is seen as a victory for Damascus and its ally Turkiye, addressing a key issue that led to the clashes: the failure to peacefully integrate the SDF into Syrian state institutions. Turkiye views the SDF as the Syrian branch of the PKK, an organization it has been at war with since 1984.
Fighting had erupted between the Syrian Army and SDF forces in Aleppo on January 6 after talks aimed at integrating the Kurdish-led fighters into Syria’s national army stalled. The two sides had also clashed the previous month before a deadline for the SDF to lay down its heavy weapons and hand over control of areas in Aleppo to the national army.
The agreement entails merging all SDF forces into the defense and interior ministries after conducting required security checks. The Syrian government will immediately and completely take over the Kurdish-held provinces of Deir al-Zor and Raqqa militarily and administratively. All border crossings, and gas and oil fields in the area, will also be handed over to the Syrian government.
The SDF will be committed to evacuating all non-Syrian leaders and forces affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) outside of the country. The document, shared by the Syrian presidency, showed the signatures of both Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF head Mazloum Abdi.
"All lingering files with the SDF will be resolved," state media quoted Sharaa as saying.
He also stated that he was set to meet Abdi on Monday.
The ceasefire can be seen as a victory for Damascus and its ally Turkiye.
“The biggest issue facing the government, and the reason for these clashes, was a failure to integrate Kurdish-led SDF peacefully into Syrian state institutions,” he said.
“Turkiye sees the SDF as the Syrian branch of the PKK, an organisation that Turkiye has been at war with since 1984, and now, as part of the ceasefire agreement, it says that the SDF will expel PKK elements from outside of Syria’s borders,” he added, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that seeks greater autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkiye.
The Syrian Army will take control of three eastern and northeastern provinces – Raqqa, Deir Az Zor and Hasakah – from the SDF as part of the deal. The SDF will be integrated into Syria’s defence and interior ministries as part of a broader 14-point agreement.
The ceasefire will be in parallel with the withdrawal of all SDF affiliated forces to the east of the Euphrates River, according to a document published by the Syrian Presidency on Sunday.
The deal entails merging all SDF forces into the defence and interior ministries after conducting required security checks, the statement said.
The government will also immediately and completely take over the Kurdish-held provinces of Deir al-Zor and Raqqa militarily and administratively.
All border crossings, and gas and oil fields in the area, will also be handed over to the Syrian government.
The SDF will be committed to evacuating all non-Syrian leaders and forces affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) outside of the country.
The document, shared by the Syrian presidency, showed the signatures of both Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF head Mazloum Abdi.
"All lingering files with the SDF will be resolved," state media quoted Sharaa as saying.
He said he was set to meet Abdi on Monday.
Reporting by Damascus team, Jaidaa Taha and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Suleiman al Khalidi and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Jane Merriman and David Holmes.