The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Friday that they have reached a new agreement with Syria’s central government, aimed at stabilizing a ceasefire that ended weeks of fighting and defining concrete steps toward political and military integration between the two sides.
According to the agreement, security forces affiliated with Syria’s Ministry of Interior will enter the cities of al-Hasakeh and Qamishli, located in the heart of Kurdish-controlled areas, where their presence had previously been restricted. The deal also initiates the integration of SDF forces into government security structures, the Associated Press reported.
The agreement foresees the creation of a new military brigade composed of three SDF brigades, as well as the formation of a separate unit made up of SDF fighters within a Syrian army brigade stationed in Aleppo province.
In addition, local institutions operating under the Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria—long functioning as a de facto autonomous region—along with their employees, will be integrated into Syrian state institutions.
The deal also includes guarantees of civil and educational rights for the Kurdish population, as well as the return of displaced persons to their areas of origin, according to the official statement.
“The goal of this agreement is the unification of Syrian territories and the full implementation of the integration process, through strengthening cooperation among the parties involved and combining efforts to rebuild the country,” the statement said.
The agreement was later confirmed by the Syrian government through an official announcement.
Despite the breakthrough, the context remains fragile. The SDF had recently lost most of the territory it controlled in northeastern Syria following a government offensive, which came after intense clashes on January 6 in the northern city of Aleppo, following months of failed negotiations over a previous integration deal.
Since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leadership has struggled to establish full authority over a country devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war. A prior agreement to integrate the SDF with Damascus, reached in March, failed to be implemented on the ground, underscoring the challenges that remain.
