A ceasefire between the government and Kurdish forces has been declared in Syria

On 18 January, the government of Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached with Kurdish armed groups in the north and east of the country. This was reported by the state news agency Sana. The agreement provides for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces on all fronts, according to DW.

At the same time, at the time of publication, the Kurdish side had not provided official confirmation of the agreement and had not commented on its terms. According to Syrian sources, the agreement provides for the withdrawal of SDF forces east of the Euphrates River and the transfer of administrative and military control over the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to the central government.

The ceasefire came amid intense fighting in recent weeks, during which government forces tightened their control over a number of strategic areas, including territories rich in oil and gas fields. One of the key reasons for the conflict remains disputes over the level of autonomy of the Kurdish region and control over natural resources.

The agreement also provides for the integration of civilian institutions in the province of Hasakah into state structures, and SDF fighters are to be included in the Syrian ministries of defence and interior. This point was previously one of the most controversial in the negotiations.

The truce was welcomed by US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who called it an important step towards de-escalation. At the same time, experts note that the prospect of lasting peace will depend on the willingness of the parties to fulfil their commitments.

Source and photo: DW.

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