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The Islamist-led Syrian Transitional Government (STG) announced on January 20 that it had reached a new understanding with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the future of the Kurdish-majority governorate of al-Hasakah and integration mechanisms.
The announcement came following a heated battle in al-Hasaka, which saw government forces capturing large parts of the governorate.
In a statement published by the state-run SANA news agency, the Presidency of Syria said that the understanding addresses many issues related to the future of al-Hasakah, and gives the SDF a four-day ceasefire “to develop a detailed plan for the practical integration” of the governorate.
According to the presidency, if a deal is reached, “Syrian forces will not enter the centers of the cities of al-Hasakah and al-Qamishli and will remain on their outskirts.”
Discussions would then follow “on the timetable and details of the peaceful integration” in al-Hasakah, including al-Qamishli.
“It added that it was also agreed that Syrian military forces will not enter Kurdish villages, and that no armed forces will be present in those villages other than local security forces drawn from the residents of the area, in accordance with the agreement,” SANA reported.
The presidency also said SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi will put forward nominees for the posts of deputy defense minister and al-Hasakah governor.
“The two sides agreed to integrate all SDF military and security forces into the Ministries of Defense and Interior, while discussions continue regarding the detailed integration mechanism. Civilian institutions will also be integrated into the Syrian government structure,” the statement published by SANA added.
It also clarified that Decree Number 13 concerning the linguistic, cultural, and citizenship rights of the Kurds, which was signed by President Ahmad al-Sharaa earlier this month, will be implemented.
The presidency noted that the implementation of this agreement will begin with a ceasefire that starts at 8:00 p.m. local time.
The SDF acknowledged the understanding, affirming in a statement that it will “not initiate any military action unless our forces are subjected to any attacks in the future”.
“We also affirm our openness to political paths, negotiated solutions, and dialogue, and our readiness to move forward with the implementation of the January 18 agreement in a manner that serves de-escalation and stability,” the statement reads.
The understanding, which clearly favors the STG, is within the lines of the January 18 merger agreement, which was brokered by the United States.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack took to X after the announcement of the understanding to voice his support for Sharaa, and declare that the purpose of the SDF had “expired.”
“Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the US on counterterrorism. This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps,” he said in a lengthy post.
Exactly at 8:00 p.m., the Syrian Ministry of Defense ordered a complete ceasefire. However, the SDF reported violations soon after.
In separate statements, the group said that government forces attacked al-Aqttan Prison, one of its last positions in Raqqa, in addition to the towns of Zarkan and Tell Barud in al-Hasakah.
Al-Aqttan, which is located in the northeastern outskirts of Raqqa, hosts an unknown number of ISIS detainees. Meanwhile, Zarkan and Tell Barud are both key defense nodes in the western countryside of al-Hasakah. Losing them could leave Kurdish forces besieged in the cities of al-Hasakah and al-Qamishli.
The new understanding will not likely hold up for long. It is very vague and open to interpretation in different ways. With the balance of power on its side, the STG will likely use it to very much demand the unconditional surrender of the SDF. If the group refuses, government forces will resume their advance and could eventually even storm al-Hasakah and al-Qamishli, in addition to the Kurdish-majority town of Kobani in Aleppo.
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handsome headchoping president al-jolani it is very vogue in dc right now.
a video that appeared online recently shows at least six soldiers and officers from ukraine’s 108th territorial defense brigade surrendering somewhere near huliapipole. this particular unit has reportedly taken some heavy losses since being brought into this direction.
.………………… https://psee.io/8m99m8
lmao, these clowns are announcing new agreements every 24 hours and then breaking them in even less time! xd
kurds should have known better than to jump in bed with the fahclsts of amerika —- their treachery knows no bounds.
and now their abandonment of the kurds cannot be unexpected.
syria should never have trusted russian backstabbers…heheheheeh