The Syrian government has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), taking almost full control of the country, according to Syrian state media.
The ceasefire ends nearly two weeks of fighting and forms part of a broader 14-point agreement that will see the SDF integrated into Syria's military and state institutions.
Speaking in Damascus, President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that the deal would allow Syrian state institutions to reassert control over three eastern and northern governorates - al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa.
This agreement follows a meeting between al-Sharaa and the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, who praised the ceasefire as a step toward a unified Syria.\
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, who was expected to attend the meeting but was delayed due to weather, confirmed the agreement will help prevent a broader conflict.
Kurdish-led forces established their administration during Syria's civil war, with significant support from the U.S., which armed and trained the SDF to combat the Islamic State (Isis).
The agreement outlines that Syrian authorities will oversee civilian institutions and manage important resources like oil and gas fields. It also involves the integration of SDF personnel into Syrian defense and interior ministries, while Damascus will take charge of prisons holding former Isis fighters.
This deal thus marks a significant shift in the dynamics of control in Syria, as the state reasserts its influence over the regions previously held by Kurdish forces, alongside formal recognition of Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights.
The ceasefire comes after periods of stalled negotiations and previous efforts at integration failed, highlighting the complex landscape of Syrian governance and its future.
