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Syria: Ceasefire Agreed Between Assad and Kurdish Forces

Published January 18, 2026, 20:11
Syria: Ceasefire Agreed Between Assad and Kurdish Forces

The Syrian government and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by Kurds, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, following days of clashes as the army advances into Kurdish-controlled territory in the northeast. The agreement stipulates the withdrawal of the SDF east of the Euphrates River and the merger of their forces with the Syrian ministries of Defense and Interior. According to the agreement, the Syrian government will take control of border crossings and oil and gas fields in the region, as well as military and administrative control of the Deir al-Zor and Raqqa provinces. The SDF also commit to removing all non-Syrian leaders and forces linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from Syria. This agreement marks a significant change in the situation in Syria, with the reunification of Kurdish forces with the central government. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with the US ambassador to Turkey, reiterating Syria's sovereignty over all its territory and emphasizing the importance of dialogue and the reconstruction of the country. The agreement is seen as a step towards a united Syria.