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Ceasefire ends two weeks of fighting
Syria's government has declared an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), state media reported on Monday. The agreement halts nearly two weeks of clashes and marks a pivotal shift in control over the country's northeast.
Key terms of the 14-point agreement
The deal, announced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, outlines the integration of the SDF into Syria's military and state institutions. Under the terms, Syrian authorities will regain control of civilian governance, border crossings, and oil and gas fields in the eastern and northern governorates of al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa.
SDF personnel will undergo vetting before joining Syria's defense and interior ministries, while Damascus assumes responsibility for prisons and detention camps housing tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State (ISIS) fighters and their families.
Cultural and political concessions
The agreement includes formal recognition of Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, a historic first since Syria's independence in 1946. Kurdish will gain official language status, and the Kurdish new year will be designated a national holiday.
In a statement on Kurdish television channel Ronahi, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi emphasized the ceasefire was necessary to prevent a broader conflict, calling the recent fighting "imposed" on the SDF. He pledged to protect the "achievements" of the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria.
US involvement and regional implications
The deal follows a meeting between al-Sharaa and US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Damascus. Barrack described the agreement as a step toward a "unified Syria." The US, which has backed the SDF as its primary partner in the fight against ISIS, will continue its coalition role under the new terms.
Abdi was scheduled to attend the Damascus meeting but was delayed by adverse weather, with his visit postponed until Monday. The SDF, established nearly a decade ago with US support, has governed both Kurdish and Arab-majority areas in northeast Syria since driving ISIS from the region.
Background and recent developments
The agreement follows months of stalled negotiations after a previous integration effort collapsed. Syrian government forces recently moved into Raqqa and nearby oil facilities after an SDF withdrawal on Sunday.
Al-Sharaa had previously stated that it was untenable for a militia to control a quarter of Syria's territory and its key oil resources. The deal reaffirms Syria's commitment to the US-led coalition against ISIS while consolidating state authority over the northeast.
