The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced a comprehensive ceasefire and integration agreement on Thursday, ending weeks of intense fighting that saw Damascus reclaim significant swathes of northeastern Syria. The deal, which includes a phased merger of Kurdish military units into Syria's national defence structure, averts what analysts had warned could become a bloody urban battle for the region's remaining Kurdish-held cities.
The agreement comes after Syrian government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa's command captured key oil fields and agricultural territory from the SDF, forcing the Kurdish forces into an increasingly untenable defensive position. The shift reflects a dramatic realignment of power in Syria's northeast, where the SDF had maintained de facto autonomy for years with backing from Washington. That support has visibly waned under the Trump administration, which has cultivated closer ties with Damascus even as it pursues more assertive policies elsewhere in the region.
Terms mandate deep restructuring of Kurdish forces
Under the agreement, three SDF brigades will be incorporated into a new division within Syria's Defence Ministry, with fighters integrated as individuals rather than as intact units. A separate brigade will be established for SDF forces in Kobani. The deal requires both sides to withdraw from front-line positions, while Syrian Interior Ministry security forces will deploy to the centers of Hasakah and Qamishli—cities that have been under Kurdish administrative control.
Administrative institutions established by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria will be merged with Syrian state structures, effectively ending the parallel governance system that emerged during the civil war. The current ceasefire has been extended for 15 days to facilitate initial implementation steps.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack described the agreement as a "profound and historic milestone," signaling Washington's acceptance of an outcome that significantly diminishes the autonomy of its former battlefield partner. The SDF statement emphasized unifying Syrian territory and reconstruction, but the military context is unmistakable: Damascus negotiated from a position of overwhelming advantage after weeks of successful offensive operations.
Members are reading: Why the 15-day implementation window could collapse under Turkish pressure and Kurdish defections
Conclusion
The agreement marks a fundamental power shift in Syria's northeast, ending years of Kurdish autonomy sustained by American military presence. Damascus has leveraged recent territorial gains to secure terms that subordinate the SDF to central government authority, while Washington's acquiescence signals a broader recalibration of U.S. priorities in Syria. Whether the deal produces lasting integration or merely postpones confrontation will depend on implementation details that remain deeply contested among all parties.
Subscribe to our free newsletter to unlock direct links to all sources used in this article.
We believe you deserve to verify everything we write. That's why we meticulously document every source.
