The Syrian transitional government announced on Sunday, January 18, 2026, that it has reached an immediate ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), effectively bringing nearly the entire country under central authority after more than a decade of division.
Kabul 24: The deal, a 14-point accord signed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, ends recent heavy fighting—particularly in Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor—and paves the way for the full integration of SDF military and civilian structures into Syria’s national institutions.
According to Syrian state media and confirmed reports, the SDF has committed to withdrawing from key areas west and south of the Euphrates, handing over full control of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, along with major oil and gas fields (including the Omar and Conoco facilities), dams, border crossings, prisons, and camps holding ISIS suspects and families.
Under the agreement, SDF fighters will be integrated individually into Syria’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior following security vetting, rather than as independent units.
Civilian administration in Hasakah province—the core of Kurdish-held territory—will transition to central government control, though some cultural and linguistic rights for Kurds are recognized, supported by Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026 addressing citizenship, property claims, and unregistered individuals.
The breakthrough follows rapid government advances over the past days, capturing strategic sites and forcing SDF retreats to prevent escalation into full-scale civil war. Abdi, in a televised statement, confirmed the withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to Hasakah and emphasized preserving Kurdish achievements while avoiding broader conflict.
He is scheduled to visit Damascus on Monday (January 19) for further discussions, after bad weather delayed an in-person meeting.
The United States, a longtime SDF backer in the fight against ISIS, welcomed the deal through Special Envoy Tom Barrack, calling it a “pivotal inflection point” toward a unified Syria and continued counter-terrorism cooperation.
Turkey, which views the SDF as linked to the PKK, has also expressed support, seeing the accord as aligning with its security concerns.Analysts describe the agreement as marking the practical end of the SDF’s de facto autonomy in northeast Syria.
While it restores territorial unity after years of fragmentation, challenges remain—including potential ISIS resurgence, integration logistics, and ensuring minority rights in a post-Assad era.
