The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Friday they had reached a “comprehensive” agreement to halt fighting across the country and begin a phased integration of military, security, and administrative institutions.
If carried out, the agreement would end the latest bout of bloodshed between Damascus and the SDF and bring the autonomous administration in northeastern Syria under the authority of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government.
US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack quickly welcomed the agreement, calling it a “historic milestone in Syria’s journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability.”
He said the deal between the SDF and the Syrian government reflected a shared commitment to inclusion and dignity for all Syrian communities. He underscored the government’s commitment to national partnership and inclusive governance.
Barrack added that recent developments in Syria were paving the way for “rebuilding institutions, restoring trust, attracting the investment essential for reconstruction, and securing lasting peace for all Syrians.”
The agreement includes the withdrawal of military forces from contact lines and the deployment of Interior Ministry security forces to the centers of Hasakah and Qamishli in northeastern Syria.
It also provides for the formation of a military division comprising brigades from the SDF.
The Kurdish forces disclosed the terms of the agreement in a statement before Damascus announced it through state media.
The deal provides for the formation of a military division consisting of three brigades from the SDF, as well as the creation of a brigade from the Kobani forces, also known as Ain al-Arab, within a division affiliated with Aleppo province.
The agreement also confirms the integration of the autonomous administration’s institutions into Syrian state institutions, while retaining civilian employees.
A Syrian military source said the integration would take place on an individual basis within the brigades, with the state assuming control of all civilian and government institutions, border crossings, and outlets, ensuring that no part of the country remains outside its authority.
It was unclear whether the integration of SDF fighters into government forces would also include women, who currently serve in dedicated units known as the Women’s Protection Units.
Sharaa had signed a ceasefire and complete integration agreement with the SDF on Jan. 18.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said the deal included the integration of all civilian institutions in Hasakah province into state structures, the government’s takeover of all border crossings and oil and gas fields in the area, and their protection by regular forces to ensure revenues return to the state.
It also stipulated the individual integration of all SDF military and security personnel into the structures of the defense and interior ministries following security vetting, granting them military ranks and financial and logistical entitlements in accordance with regulations, while preserving the particularities of Kurdish areas.
On Jan. 24, Damascus and the SDF announced a 15-day extension of their ceasefire agreement as talks and contacts between the two sides continued.
The SDF, which includes Arab fighters, played a pivotal role during the years of Syria’s conflict. Backed by the United States, it fought ISIS and largely defeated the group in Syria.
As a result, it established control over vast areas in the north and east of the country, including major oil fields, and set up an autonomous administration. It also detained thousands of militants, estimated at around 10,000.
However, since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Syria’s new authorities under Sharaa have said they are determined to unify the country under government control.
They entered negotiations with Kurdish leaders to integrate their forces and institutions into the state, but talks stalled, leading to military clashes before the latest agreement was reached.
