Syrian government announces a ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces

Syrian Government announces a ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces 1 of 9 | Dozens of residents took to the streets of Tabqa to welcome government troops while waving the national flag after the seizure of their town. It came after tensions between Damascus and the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, flared earlier this month. Sunday’s military push in the province of Raqqa is viewed as critical because of a dam that controls the southward flow deeper into areas under SDF in northeastern Syria. (AP video by Ghaith Alsayed, production by Ali Sharafeddine) 2 of 9 | The government in Damascus accused Kurdish-led forces of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing from the area in northeast Syria. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, denied the allegations, saying they had transferred the detainees out of the prison and accused government forces of firing at the facility. (AP video shot by Ghaith Alsayed, Production by Ali Sharafeddine) 3 of 9 | The capture follows tensions between Damascus and the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, flared earlier this month, leading to deadly clashes and the government taking control of three Aleppo neighbourhoods from Kurdish fighters. (AP video by Ali Sharafeddine) 4 of 9 | 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) 5 of 9 | Residents wave a Syrian flag atop a toppled statue of a female Kurdish fighter, with one holding a statue’s replica AK-47 that was part of the statue, after the takeover of the town by Syrian Government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) 6 of 9 | 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) 7 of 9 | Female soldiers of the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) march during a military parade in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Syrian Government forces have seized a strategic towns in eastern Syria, intensifying their push against Kurdish-led forces east of the Euphrates River.(AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad) 8 of 9 | 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) 9 of 9 | In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, left, shakes hands with Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (SANA via AP) 1 of 9 Dozens of residents took to the streets of Tabqa to welcome government troops while waving the national flag after the seizure of their town. It came after tensions between Damascus and the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, flared earlier this month. Sunday’s military push in the province of Raqqa is viewed as critical because of a dam that controls the southward flow deeper into areas under SDF in northeastern Syria. (AP video by Ghaith Alsayed, production by Ali Sharafeddine) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 2 of 9 The government in Damascus accused Kurdish-led forces of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing from the area in northeast Syria. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, denied the allegations, saying they had transferred the detainees out of the prison and accused government forces of firing at the facility. (AP video shot by Ghaith Alsayed, Production by Ali Sharafeddine) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 3 of 9 The capture follows tensions between Damascus and the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, flared earlier this month, leading to deadly clashes and the government taking control of three Aleppo neighbourhoods from Kurdish fighters. (AP video by Ali Sharafeddine) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 4 of 9 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 5 of 9 Residents wave a Syrian flag atop a toppled statue of a female Kurdish fighter, with one holding a statue’s replica AK-47 that was part of the statue, after the takeover of the town by Syrian Government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 6 of 9 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 7 of 9 Female soldiers of the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) march during a military parade in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Syrian Government forces have seized a strategic towns in eastern Syria, intensifying their push against Kurdish-led forces east of the Euphrates River.(AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 8 of 9 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, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 9 of 9 In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, left, shakes hands with Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (SANA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] RAQQA, Syria (AP) — 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. Since 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.Barrack praised the agreement, saying it will lead to “renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria,” ahead of working on the details of implementing the integration.“This agreement and ceasefire represent a pivotal inflection point, where former adversaries embrace partnership over division,” said Barrack in a post on X.The agreement includes dismantling the SDF and having its forces join Syria’s military and security forces, while senior military and civilian officials would be given high-ranking positions in state institutions. The SDF would have to give up the Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces to the Syrian military and government, as well as its border crossings and oil and gas fields. Hassakah Province is only expected to give its civilian administration back to Damascus, while the Kurdish-led agencies that handled prisons and sprawling camps with thousands of detained Islamic State group fighters and families would be handed over to Damascus. There is no clear timeline on when and how the different elements of the agreement will go into effect. Al-Sharaa told journalists that it will be gradually implemented, beginning with the cessation of hostilities. It appeared that tensions following clashes in Aleppo earlier this month had calmed after Abdi announced that his troops will withdraw east of the Euphrates River, and al-Sharaa issued a presidential decree that would strengthen Kurdish rights in the country.However, overnight the Syrian military seized Tabqa, continuing into Raqqa Province. Syrian troops reached much of Raqqa city by the time the announcement was made. Armed Arab clans in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour that largely do not support the SDF backed Damascus. By evening, the SDF lost control of large swaths of its territory and infrastructure, including dams and oil and gas fields. An Associated Press reporter in the area said that large military convoys swept into Raqqa city and were greeted by residents. It appeared that the SDF had withdrawn. The SDF took Tabqa from IS in 2017 as part of its military campaign to take down the Islamic State group’s so-called caliphate, which at its peak stretched across large parts of Syria and Iraq. At the height of its control, IS declared Raqqa its capital.___Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.