Kurdish-Led Forces Reach New Cease-Fire With Syrian Government

The predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Jan. 30, announced a new cease-fire agreement with Syria’s de facto interim government following recent weeks of clashes across the country.

“The agreement aims to unify the Syrian territories and achieve the full integration process in the region by enhancing cooperation between the concerned parties and unifying efforts to rebuild the country,” the SDF said in a press statement on Friday.

Syria’s new government came to power in December 2024, following years of civil war against the country’s former leader, Bashar al-Assad.

The country’s new interim president—Ahmad al-Sharaa—has since tried to unify the war-torn country under his leadership, and has pressed for the Kurds to fold their forces into the army of the new Syrian government. But the Kurds have remained skeptical of the integration process, and Syria has seen sporadic bouts of fighting in the year since Sharaa’s forces swept into Damascus.

Past cease-fire agreements in Syria—including an agreement announced on Jan. 18—have faltered under the weight of these continuing clashes between the SDF and the new government.

In their Friday press statement, the SDF said this latest cease-fire deal will see military forces withdraw from some areas of recent fighting, while allowing the security forces of the Syrian Ministry of Interior to enter into Kurdish strongholds in al-Hasakah and Qamishli.

The SDF said the new cease-fire includes steps for their armed forces to begin integrating with those of the Syrian government. The Syrian government confirmed this military integration process will begin with the formation of a new military brigade containing three regiments from SDF forces, along with the integration of an SDF regiment within the regional forces for the Aleppo province.

Beyond military integration, both parties said this new agreement will also allow for “self-administration institutions” within the new Syrian governance framework.

“An agreement has also been reached on the settlement of civil and educational rights for the Kurdish people, and guaranteeing the return of the displaced to their areas,” the SDF added.

The deal upholds provisions to recognize Kurdish as a national language within Syria, and allows for its teaching and preservation within Kurdish areas of the country.

Tom Barrack, who serves as both the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and a special envoy for Syrian affairs, cheered the new agreement in a Friday statement.

For the Syrian government, Barrack said the agreement “demonstrates a steadfast dedication to genuine national partnership and inclusive governance.”

Barrack said the provisions of the agreement also “correct longstanding injustices, affirm the Kurds’ integral place within the Syrian nation, and open pathways for their full participation in shaping a secure, prosperous, and inclusive future.”

The U.S. envoy also noted a new decree Sharaa issued, reversing past policies that had deprived Kurds of their citizenship rights.

“Together, these developments pave the way for rebuilding institutions, restoring trust, attracting the investment essential for reconstruction, and securing lasting peace for all Syrians,” he said.