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Syria and SDF reach landmark integration agreement
Syria's government has finalized a deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to gradually integrate Kurdish military and civil institutions into state structures, following weeks of intense clashes in the northeast.
Key terms of the agreement
The deal, announced on Friday, requires the SDF to withdraw from frontline positions and merge its fighters into the Syrian army. A new military division comprising three brigades of former SDF members will be formed under state command.
Civilian aspects include the integration of SDF-run administrative bodies into government systems. The agreement also guarantees Kurdish cultural and educational rights, permits the return of displaced populations, and transfers control of prisons and energy infrastructure-including Syria's largest oilfield, Omar-to Damascus.
Territorial shifts and recent clashes
Syrian troops reclaimed significant territory in the northeast after a military offensive that followed the SDF's loss of nearly a third of the country. The army seized the strategic Tabqa dam and the Omar oilfield, marking the largest shift in control since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.
A ceasefire brokered earlier this month reduced hostilities, though sporadic clashes persisted. The SDF had held much of the region for over a decade with U.S. backing, particularly after its role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) group.
Political and cultural concessions
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the rebel offensive that toppled Assad, has prioritized reunifying Syria. Following the January 18 ceasefire, he expressed hope the deal would transition the country "from division to unity and progress."
In a historic move, Sharaa issued a decree recognizing Kurdish rights, including making Kurdish an official national language, granting citizenship to stateless Kurds, and declaring the Kurdish New Year a national holiday. This marks the first formal acknowledgment of Kurdish national rights since Syria's independence in 1946.
Reactions and stalled negotiations
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack hailed the agreement as "a profound and historic milestone in Syria's journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability."
The deal follows months of stalled talks over a March 2025 integration framework, with both sides previously accusing each other of obstruction. The breakthrough comes amid shifting regional dynamics and the SDF's weakened position after recent territorial losses.
What's next
Implementation details, including timelines for military integration and civilian reforms, remain unclear. Observers will monitor whether the agreement holds amid lingering distrust and competing interests in Syria's fragmented landscape.
