By: The Trek News Desk
A new agreement has been reached between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s central government, aimed at reinforcing the recently declared ceasefire and advancing the long-pending integration process between the two sides. The agreement was announced on Friday, January 30, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the SDF, the deal allows security forces linked to Syria’s Ministry of Interior to deploy in the cities of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli. These cities, located in the Kurdish-majority northeast, had previously been off-limits to government security forces. The agreement also marks the formal start of military coordination and integration between SDF units and government forces.
As part of the arrangement, three SDF brigades will be merged to form a new military brigade. In addition, a separate unit of SDF fighters will be incorporated into an existing government brigade in Aleppo province.
The deal also outlines the gradual integration of local institutions and employees of the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria into state-run institutions. For several years, this region has functioned as a de facto autonomous zone.
The SDF said the agreement guarantees civil and educational rights for the Kurdish population and ensures the safe return of displaced residents to their home areas. It added that the broader goal of the deal is to preserve Syria’s territorial unity and coordinate efforts to rebuild the country after years of conflict.
The Syrian government later confirmed the agreement in an official statement. The deal follows intense clashes earlier this month, particularly in Aleppo, after which government forces regained control over much of the territory previously held by the SDF in northeast Syria. Multiple rounds of earlier talks on integration between the two sides had failed to produce results.
Since the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leadership has faced difficulties in asserting full authority across a nation fractured by nearly 14 years of civil war. Although a previous integration agreement was reached in March, it did not gain meaningful traction on the ground.
Meanwhile, the United States, once the main backer of the SDF in the fight against Islamic State militants, has moved closer to Damascus under interim President Ahmad al-Shara. While Washington did not intervene militarily during the recent clashes, it reportedly encouraged both sides to reach a political settlement.
A ceasefire agreed upon last week has largely held, and Friday’s announcement is seen as a significant step toward making the truce more durable.
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack welcomed the development, calling it a “historic and profound milestone” in Syria’s path toward national reconciliation, unity, and lasting stability. He praised the Kurdish community for its role in combating extremism and protecting vulnerable populations during the conflict.
Source: News Agencies
