DAMASCUS — On January 18, 2026, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a historic comprehensive ceasefire and full integration agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking a potential turning point in the country's long-standing internal divisions following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024. The deal, detailed through the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) and confirmed by the Syrian Presidency, aims to restore central state authority across the northeast while addressing Kurdish rights and security concerns in the region.
The agreement, signed by President al-Sharaa and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, consists of 14 key provisions and takes immediate effect. It begins with an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts and contact lines between government forces and the SDF. This halt to hostilities is to occur in parallel with the withdrawal of all SDF-affiliated military formations to areas east of the Euphrates River, serving as a preparatory step for further redeployment and integration.
A major focus of the accord is the restoration of Syrian state control over previously SDF-held territories. It calls for the full and immediate administrative and military handover of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates to the Syrian government. Current employees in these provinces will be formally retained within relevant state ministries, with assurances that no punitive measures will be taken against SDF personnel or civil administration members. Civilian institutions in al-Hasakah Governorate — the heart of Kurdish-majority areas — will also be integrated into national administrative structures, with a presidential decree appointing a nominee (likely from SDF recommendations) as Governor of al-Hasakah to ensure political participation and local representation.
The Syrian government will assume control of all border crossings, oil fields, and gas fields in the northeast, including major sites like the Omar oilfield and Conoco gas field. These resources, long a source of revenue for the SDF, will now be secured by regular Syrian forces to ensure revenues benefit the national treasury, while taking into account the special circumstances of Kurdish areas.
On the military front, the deal stipulates the individual integration of all SDF military and security personnel into the Ministries of Defense and Interior following required security vetting. Fighters will receive appropriate ranks, financial entitlements, and logistical support in line with Syrian regulations, though without preserving the SDF as cohesive units or brigades. This provision reflects Damascus's insistence on a unified national army.
Additional measures include the SDF's commitment to refrain from incorporating remnants of the former Assad regime into its ranks and to provide lists of such officers in northeastern Syria. The agreement also addresses heavy weapons in areas like Ain al-Arab (Kobani), calling for their removal and the formation of local security forces drawn from residents, administratively affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
A critical security component involves the integration of administration and guarding forces for ISIS detainees and camps (such as al-Hol and Roj) into the Syrian government, transferring full legal and security responsibility to Damascus. This addresses long-standing international concerns about the thousands of ISIS fighters and families held in SDF-controlled facilities.
The accord welcomes Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, which recognizes Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, designates Kurdish as a national language, grants citizenship to previously unregistered or stateless Kurds (maktoumei al-qayd), and addresses accumulated property rights from past decades. The SDF further commits to expelling non-Syrian Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leaders and members from Syrian territory to safeguard national sovereignty and regional stability.
The Syrian state reaffirms its role in combating terrorism, particularly ISIS, as an active member of the U.S.-led International Coalition, in coordination with Washington. Finally, both sides agree to work toward safe and dignified returns for displaced residents of Afrin and Sheikh Maqsoud areas.
The announcement follows intense recent clashes, including heavy fighting in Aleppo's Kurdish neighborhoods (Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh) in December 2025 and January 2026, as well as government advances into SDF-held areas west of the Euphrates over the weekend. Syrian forces captured strategic sites like Tabqa, the Euphrates Dam, and several oil fields, often with support from local Arab tribes dissatisfied with SDF governance in mixed areas.
These developments built on an earlier U.S.-backed agreement signed on March 10, 2025, between al-Sharaa and Abdi, which outlined principles for SDF integration but stalled amid disputes over timelines, unit cohesion, and autonomy. The March deal set an end-of-2025 deadline for merger, which expired without full implementation, leading to renewed tensions and Turkish pressure for action against PKK-linked elements in the SDF.
The new agreement comes after U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack met with al-Sharaa in Damascus on January 18, 2026. Barrack praised the deal as a step toward a united Syria, affirming U.S. support for integration while continuing counter-ISIS operations. Al-Sharaa emphasized that Kurds are an essential part of the Syrian people, and the SDF commander’s planned in-person attendance was reportedly delayed due to weather.
Reactions have been mixed. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced the ceasefire and urged army personnel to act responsibly in protecting citizens. Some analysts view the deal as a significant victory for Damascus in reasserting control over roughly a quarter of Syrian territory and its vital resources. However, Kurdish sources and observers express caution, noting the individual integration model dilutes SDF autonomy and raises concerns about cultural protections and local governance.
The agreement represents a major step toward national reconciliation after over a decade of civil war, but its success hinges on implementation, mutual trust, and external support — particularly from the United States, Turkey, and regional powers. With ISIS remnants still active and regional rivalries persisting, the coming months will test whether this accord can deliver lasting stability in Syria's fractured northeast.
