Syria president claims ‘victory for all’ as ceasefire with Kurdish-led force announced | Syria

The Syrian government declared a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday, taking nearly full control of the country and dispersing Kurdish-led forces that had controlled the northeast for more than a decade.

The announcement comes after tensions between government forces and the SDF escalated earlier this month, eventually culminating in a major eastward push by government forces. The SDF appeared to have largely withdrawn after initial clashes in the tense frontline area of ​​eastern Aleppo province.

Hours after the government announced the agreement, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed it in a video statement, saying the group had agreed to the agreement under which they would withdraw from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces “to stop the bloodshed.”

“We will announce the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days,” he said.

The Syrian defense ministry said it had ordered a halt to fighting on the front lines after the agreement was announced.

Syria’s new leaders have struggled to assert their full authority over the country since they overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. An agreement to unite the SDF with Damascus was reached in March, but the deal failed to gain traction as both sides accused each other of violating the agreement.

Since the crackdown, the government has largely retained control of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, critical areas of the SDF such as oil and gas fields, river dams along the Euphrates River, and border crossings.

Syria’s state news agency Sanaa showed that president Ahmed al-Shara had signed and kept the agreement. Although his signature appeared on the document, Abdi, who was scheduled to meet the president in Damascus, was not seen. Al-Sharaa told reporters that Abdi was unable to travel due to bad weather conditions and would visit Damascus on Monday.

“This is a victory for all Syrians of all origins,” Al-Sharaa told reporters in Damascus after signing the agreement. “I hope Syria puts an end to its state of division and moves to a state of unity and progress.”

The two warring parties are key allies of Washington. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met with al-Sharaa early Sunday as government forces advanced toward Raqqa city and Deir ez-Zor province. It was reported that Abdi attended the meeting by phone.

Barrack praised the agreement, saying it would lead to “renewed dialogue and cooperation towards a united Syria” before working on details of implementing the integration.

“This agreement and ceasefire represents a pivotal turning point in which former enemies embrace partnership over division,” Barrack said in a post on X.

The agreement includes the dissolution of the SDF and the integration of its forces into Syria’s military and security forces, while senior military and civilian officials are given senior positions in state institutions.

The SDF will have to cede the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, both predominantly Arab, border crossings and oil and gas fields to the Syrian army and government.

Hasakah province, the center of the Kurdish population, is expected to return only its civilian administration to Damascus, while Kurdish-led institutions that run prisons and large camps housing thousands of detained Islamic State group fighters and their families will be transferred to Damascus.

There was no clear timeline for when and how the different elements of the agreement would come into force. Al-Sharaa told reporters that this would be implemented gradually, starting with the end of hostilities.

Tensions following the clashes in Aleppo at the beginning of this month appear to have calmed down after Abdi announced that his troops would withdraw from the east of the Euphrates River and Al Shara issued a presidential decree that will strengthen Kurdish rights in the country.

On Sunday evening, large military convoys entered the city of Raqqa and the SDF was seen to be withdrawing. Crowds in Raqqa celebrated in the streets waving Syrian flags and setting off fireworks until late in the evening.