Who are the Kurds?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Sarah ShamimJanuary 19, 2026 at 04:05 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The Kurds are an ethnic group of 30-40 million people indigenous to a region spanning parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia, collectively known as Kurdistan. They are considered the world's largest stateless ethnic group. In January 2026, the Syrian government, seeking to unify the country after a 14-year civil war, announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The agreement stipulates the Syrian Army will take control of SDF-held territories in Raqqa, Deir Az Zor, and Hasakah provinces, and the SDF will be integrated into Syria's defense and interior ministries. Despite the agreement, clashes have been reported. The Syrian government has also recognized Kurdish as a national language.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Turkiye 30% Iraq 30% Deir Az Zor 40% Raqqa 40% Bashar al-Assad 40% Syrian Army ×250% Hasakah ×250% Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) 50% Ahmed al-Sharaa ×260% Syria ×770% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×780% Kurds ×790%

Keywords

kurds 100% syrian democratic forces 80% syria 70% stateless ethnic group 60% kurdish population 50% middle east 50% ceasefire agreement 50% kurdistan 40%