Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by William ChristouJanuary 30, 2026 at 03:56 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached an agreement on Friday for a permanent truce in northeast Syria, ending nearly a month of fighting. The deal aims to integrate Kurdish forces into the Syrian army and extend Damascus' control over the entire country, which had been divided among various groups for 14 years. Under the agreement, both sides will withdraw from frontlines, government forces will enter key cities, and the SDF will integrate into the army, including the formation of a new military brigade. The Kurdish authority's autonomy will significantly decrease, replaced by Syrian state rule, while Kurds are guaranteed civil and educational rights. The agreement seeks to unify Syrian territories and rebuild the country.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Islamic State (IS) 35% Aleppo 40% Hasakah 50% Qamishli 50% Damascus ×260% Kurdish Authority ×365% Syria ×775% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×680% Kurdish-led Forces 85% Syrian Government ×590%

Keywords

permanent truce 90% kurdish forces 90% syrian government 90% syrian democratic forces 70% integration 70% north-east syria 60% autonomy 60% unitary rule 50% civil rights 40% military brigade 40%