Syria’s government has reached a significant agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) controlling the country’s northeast. The government plans to integrate SDF into the national army and establish a nationwide ceasefire. This historic deal will give the government control over the northeast for the first time since the Kurds gained autonomy during the civil war in 2012.
As part of the agreement, all public institutions, including borders, airports, and oilfields, will be placed under government control by the end of the year. Additionally, the deal recognizes Kurdish rights, which were previously denied under the Assad regime. The agreement’s text also promises equal participation in the country’s new political process, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
The breakthrough deal comes under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had been in negotiations with the SDF to consolidate government control. This resolution also answers the question of the SDF’s future after the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Turkish-backed rebel groups, who joined the Syrian army, had been in regular conflict with SDF until the deal was announced.
Joyful crowds took to the streets in Raqqa, northeast Syria, and in Damascus following the agreement’s announcement. Rallies started just after the Syrian defense ministry declared an end to its military operations against Assad loyalists along the Syrian coast. These combat operations followed coordinated attacks by Assad loyalists on Syrian security forces across the coast.
The five-day battle in northwest Syria claimed the lives of over 1,000 people, including at least 745 civilians. Assad regime loyalists and Syrian government forces were both responsible for civilian casualties. More than 200 Alawite civilians died in revenge killings in villages across the northwest.
The SDF’s handing over of military authority to the state is unclear, as Syria’s Kurdish population is wary of their treatment under the Assad regime. The government must also reach a deal with the Druze community in southern Syria, which has remained autonomous.
Further tensions exist in southern Syria with Israel’s incursion. Israeli leaders have threatened military intervention to protect the Druze population. Druze leaders, in turn, reject any Israeli intervention. Shortly after the agreement between Damascus and the SDF, the Israeli air force bombed military sites in Daraa, southern Syria, as reported by government-aligned broadcaster Syria TV.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/10/syrian-government-reaches-deal-with-kurdish-led-sdf-to-integrate-north-east-region
