Kursish leader confirms ceasefire, says details to come
Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), confirmed the ceasefire deal in a televised address on Sunday night.
“In order for this war not to turn into civil war… we accepted to withdraw from the Deir el-Zour and Raqqa regions to Hasakeh,” Abdi said in a statement broadcast by Kurdish television channel Ronahi.
“We will explain the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days,” he added.
Turkey hopes agreement will contribute to ‘security, peace’
Turkey hopes the new agreement will “contribute to the security and peace of the Syrian people, as well as the entire region, particularly Syria’s neighbors,” its Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
“With the recognition of the realities on the ground, we hope that all groups and individuals in the country fully understand that Syria’s future lies not in terrorism and division, but in unity, integration and cohesion,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Ankara considers the SDF as a terrorist organization because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.
Syrian leader cancels Berlin visit
Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa has postponed a planned visit to Berlin.
The Syrian interim leader was due to arrive in the country on Monday and hold meetings with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as German business leaders, on Tuesday.
Al-Sharaa was scheduled to meet Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, on Sunday, after the SDF and Damascus government reached a ceasefire agreement.
But the Syrian leader told journalists Abdi could not travel to Damascus due to bad weather and will instead visit him on Monday.
US commends ceasefire, says ‘pivotal inflection point’
The US hailed the ceasefire agreement, with Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to Syria, describing it as “a pivotal inflection point.”
“President al-Sharaa has affirmed that the Kurds are an integral part of Syria, and the United States looks forward to the seamless integration of our historic partner in the fight against ISIS with the Global Coalition’s newest member, as we press forward in the enduring battle against terrorism,” Barrack wrote on X, using the acronym of the “Islamic State” militant group.
Barrack acknowledged the “challenging work” that comes with integrating Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian state, adding that the US “stands firmly behind this process at every stage.”
Al-Sharaa voices support for ‘Syria’s unity, sovereignty over all its territory’
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday voiced support for the country’s “unity and sovereignty over its territory.”
In a meeting with US envoy Tom Barrack in Damascus shortly before the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, Syria’s interim leader affirmed the importance of dialogue and rebuilding the country “with the participation of all Syrians.”
On Friday, as the Syrian government was extending its grip on Kurdish-run areas, al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a “national language” and granting official recognition to the minority group.
However, the Kurds said that Friday’s announcement did not meet their expectations.
Tensions flared amid disagreement over integration of Kurdish force into new Syrian state — what to know
Fighting frequently broke out between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led forces as negotiations stalled between Damascus and the SDF over an agreement reached in March 2025.
The agreement aimed to integrate Kurdish forces into the new Syrian state, and allow the central government to take control of assets, including border crossings and oil fields, that have long been under Kurdish control.
During Syria’s civil war, the SDF was the US’ most important ally in fighting the extremist “Islamic State” group, but the Syrian government accuses the SDF of tolerating Assad loyalists and members of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) within its ranks.
In turn, Kurdish representatives distrust assurances by al-Sharaa, the former leader of the Islamist group HTS, that their rights will be protected. They also warn of a possible resurgence of the “Islamic State.”
What prompted a ceasefire agreement?
The ceasefire agreement comes after two days of fresh fighting in the country’s east, which saw Syria’s army dislodge the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from areas in northern and northeastern Syria that the SDF had controlled for over a decade.
On Sunday, the government announced the capture of the strategic town of Tabqa, located about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of the key city of Raqqa, held by the SDF.
Last week, Syrian government troops drove Kurdish forces out of two neighborhoods in Aleppo. On Saturday, they also took control of an area east of the city.
Reuters reported Sunday that Kurdish-led forces had withdrawn from the Omar oil field, Syria’s largest, in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, amid fighting.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/syria-announces-new-ceasefire-deal-with-kurdish-led-sdf/live-75553804
