Kurdish-led SDF accepts truce however studies continued assaults by government-allied forces, regardless of the settlement.
Revealed On 20 Jan 2026
The Syrian authorities has introduced a four-day ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the military continued to grab territory within the nation’s northeast following lightning advances.
The Syrian Military introduced the ceasefire, which got here into impact at 8pm (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
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It additionally stated it had requested the SDF to supply the identify of a candidate for the position of assistant to the defence minister in Damascus, as a part of efforts to combine the Kurds into the Syrian state.
The SDF confirmed it had accepted the ceasefire and stated it will not have interaction in any navy motion until attacked.
“We additionally affirm our openness to political paths, negotiated options, and dialogue, and our readiness to maneuver ahead with the implementation of the January 18 settlement in a way that serves de-escalation and stability,” the SDF stated in an announcement.
Nonetheless, shortly after the ceasefire got here into impact, the SDF claimed that government-allied teams have been launching an assault, “utilizing heavy weapons”, on the village of Tal Baroud, alongside the Abyad highway, south of Hasakah.
In keeping with the SDF’s spokesperson, Farhad Shami, the city of Zarkan has been “below intense artillery shelling” in latest hours by Damascus-affiliated factions. He stated that government-allied forces have additionally attacked al-Aqtan Jail north of Raqqa, utilizing 5 suicide drones and heavy gunfire.
Previously few days, the Syrian authorities has quickly superior and seized territory held by the SDF, within the greatest success and alter of management for President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the autumn of former chief Bashar al-Assad.
Syria’s Ministry of Inside stated the military’s forces have begun to take management of the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, house to hundreds of ISIL (ISIS) fighters’ households in addition to different long-term refugees from the battle. The SDF deserted management of the camp earlier at this time.
The SDF nonetheless retains management of Hasakah metropolis, with a inhabitants of Kurds and Arabs, and the Kurdish-majority metropolis of Qamishli. The Syrian authorities stated its forces wouldn’t attempt to enter both of the cities through the ceasefire.
Below intense navy strain, the SDF agreed to withdraw from two Arab-majority governorates it managed for years, Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, the positioning of Syria’s principal oilfields.
Abdul Karim Omar, a Kurdish consultant in Damascus, advised Al Jazeera that the northeastern area of Syria, previously below SDF management, is prepared for the method of integrating SDF forces into the establishments of the Syrian state.
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, advised reporters that the federal government hope the ceasefire settlement holds.
“We’re working with our companions at the US to be sure that it holds,” Olabi stated.
The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, introduced that the Syrian authorities was now the US’s main partner in preventing ISIL, a task beforehand held by the SDF.
