Syria reaches ceasefire deal with Kurdish forces after military advance

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire agreement with Kurdish-led forces on Sunday after government troops advanced rapidly across the country's northern and eastern regions, capturing strategic cities, oil fields, and a major hydroelectric dam.

The deal marks a significant turning point in Syria's political landscape. Under the agreement, Kurdish forces will integrate their military and administrative structures into the Syrian state, ending more than a decade of de facto autonomy in areas they controlled.

Sharaa told reporters he had planned to meet with Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, on Monday to formalize the arrangement. "In order to calm the situation, we decided to sign the agreement," Sharaa said, citing poor weather as the reason for postponing their in-person meeting.

Background

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have controlled significant portions of Syria's north and northeast since the fight against the Islamic State group began roughly a decade ago. These territories include some of Syria's most valuable resources, including oil fields and agricultural land.

In March, the Syrian government and Kurdish forces reached an agreement intended to integrate Kurdish military units into the state structure. However, negotiations stalled over the following months, with both sides accusing each other of failing to honor commitments.

On Friday, President Sharaa issued a decree granting Kurds official recognition as a minority group and declaring Kurdish a national language. The decree also restored Syrian nationality to approximately 20 percent of the Kurdish population who had been stripped of citizenship following a controversial 1962 census. However, Kurdish leaders said the decree did not go far enough.

"Rights are not protected by temporary decrees, but through permanent constitutions that express the will of the people and all components of society." – Kurdish Administration Statement

The announcement fell short of Kurdish aspirations for self-governance and constitutional protections rather than temporary measures.

Key Details

Government forces made dramatic territorial gains over the weekend. On Saturday, Syrian troops captured Tabqa, a strategic city in Raqa province, along with the nearby Euphrates Dam, one of Syria's largest hydroelectric power stations. They also seized multiple oil fields, including the Al-Omar field, Syria's largest, and the Tanak and Safyan fields.

Fighting intensified on Sunday in the city of Raqa, where clashes broke out between Kurdish forces and local Arab fighters loyal to Damascus. State media reported that SDF gunfire killed two civilians, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented fighting between the SDF and Arab tribal fighters.

The 14-point agreement includes several major provisions. Kurdish security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces will be integrated into Syria's defense and interior ministries. The Kurdish-run provinces of Deir Ezzor and Raqa will be handed over to government control immediately. Damascus will also assume responsibility for Islamic State prisoners and their families currently held in Kurdish-run facilities and camps.

Military movements and oil fields

Kurdish forces suddenly withdrew from areas under their control in eastern Deir Ezzor, including major oil facilities. These withdrawals came as Arab fighters, some of whom are part of the SDF, advanced in coordination with government troops. The government has announced control of multiple energy facilities, with Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir stating that returning these resources to state control "means opening the door wide for reconstruction, revitalizing agriculture, energy and trade."

The Syrian Defense Ministry ordered fighting to halt on front lines following the agreement announcement.

International involvement

US envoy Tom Barrack met with Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi in Erbil, Iraq on Saturday before traveling to Damascus on Sunday to meet with President Sharaa. Barrack described the Kurdish ceasefire deal as a "key inflection point."

The United States has long supported the Kurdish forces militarily and politically, but the Biden administration also backs Syria's new government authorities. On Saturday, US Central Command urged Syrian government forces to stop offensive operations in areas between Aleppo and Tabqa.

France's President Emmanuel Macron and the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, both called for deescalation and a ceasefire.

What This Means

The agreement represents a major loss for Kurdish political ambitions in Syria. After more than a decade of controlling their own territory and building autonomous institutions, Kurdish forces now face integration into a centralized Syrian state structure. The deal allows Damascus to reassert control over resource-rich areas and consolidate power after years of fragmented authority.

Kurdish civilians in major cities like Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in Syria's northeast, protested the agreement on Sunday. Hundreds gathered to demonstrate, chanting slogans including "we will defend our heroes."

Analysts note the agreement offers cultural concessions while strengthening military control. The government's strategy appears designed to separate Kurdish civilians from the armed forces that have governed them for a decade, offering language and citizenship rights while refusing power-sharing arrangements.

The ceasefire also resolves a key issue for Syria's reconstruction. The government now controls major oil and hydroelectric facilities that can generate revenue and provide electricity as the country rebuilds after years of conflict. However, the rapid military advance and subsequent agreement suggest negotiations between the two sides remain fragile, with both parties accusing each other of violations in recent days.