* Syrian Ceasefire: Government and SDF Announce Agreement*
- Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces...
- RAQQA, Syria - The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that...
- The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF boiled over earlier this month, eventually resulting in a major push by government forces toward the east.
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Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, on Sunday.
Ghaith Alsayed/AP
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Ghaith Alsayed/AP
RAQQA, Syria - The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade.
The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF boiled over earlier this month, eventually resulting in a major push by government forces toward the east. The SDF appeared to have largely retreated after initial clashes on a tense front line area in eastern Aleppo province.
Syria’s Defense Ministry said it ordered the fighting to halt on the front lines after the agreement was announced. The SDF did not confirm the agreement, nor immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Syria’s new leaders, since toppling Bashar Assad in December 2024, have struggled to assert their full authority over the war-torn country.An agreement was reached in March that would merge the SDF with Damascus, but it didn’t gain traction as both sides accused each other of violating the deal.
As the push, the government has largely asserted control of the Deir el-Zour and Raqqa provinces, critical areas under the SDF that include oil and gas fields, river dams along the Euphrates, and border crossings.
Syria’s state-run news agency SANA showed President Ahmad al-Sharaa signing and holding the agreement. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, who was scheduled to meet with the president in Damascus, was not seen, though his signature appeared on the document.Al-Sharaa told journalists that Abdi could not travel due to bad weather and will visit Damascus on Monday after reaching the agreement over the phone.
“It’s a victory for all Syrians of all backgrounds,” al-Sharaa told journalists in Damascus after signing the agreement. “Hopefully Syria will end its state of division and moves to a state of unity and progress.”
The two warring sides are key allies of Washington. U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack met with al-Sharaa earlier Sunday as government forces were sweeping into the city of Raqqa and across Deir el-zour province. Abdi reportedly joined the meeting over the phone.
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Recent reports indicate a shift in control over territory previously held by the Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, including key infrastructure like dams and oil fields. Military convoys have entered Raqqa,suggesting a withdrawal by the SDF,though the circumstances remain fluid.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Territorial Control
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have experienced a loss of control over significant areas and infrastructure in Syria,including dams and oil and gas fields. Reuters reported on January 11, 2024, that attacks by Islamic State (IS) militants were a key factor in these territorial losses. The SDF, a U.S.-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, had been the primary partner in the fight against IS in Syria.
As of January 18, 2024, the situation remains unstable, with ongoing clashes reported between the SDF and IS fighters. Voice of America News reported that the SDF withdrawal from areas in Deir al-zor province occurred after clashes with IS militants.
raqqa and the Islamic State (IS) Caliphate
Raqqa served as the de facto capital of the Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate from 2014 until its recapture in 2017. The SDF liberated Tabqa from IS in May 2017,a crucial step in dismantling the caliphate.The U.S. Department of Defense announced on may 12, 2017, the liberation of Tabqa, highlighting its strategic importance in the campaign against IS.
The recent entry of military convoys into Raqqa city, as reported by the Associated Press, suggests a potential shift in security control.While the exact nature of these forces and their intentions remains unclear,the SDF’s apparent withdrawal indicates a changing dynamic in the region.