Syrian army, Kurdish-led SDF accuse each other of ceasefire violations

Despite a recently extended 15-day ceasefire between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), both sides are accusing each other of violations. On Sunday, the Syrian army claimed the SDF launched multiple drone attacks in the Aleppo countryside, targeting army positions and the M4 highway, allegedly wounding civilians and destroying vehicles. The SDF, on Monday, accused the Syrian army of targeting a Kurdish-majority city near the Turkish border. These accusations come after the Syrian government seized territory from the SDF in northern and eastern Syria, consolidating President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rule. The initial four-day ceasefire was extended after it expired on Saturday night.

A video showing a Syrian militiaman displaying what he claimed was a severed braid of a Kurdish fighter killed in Raqqa sparked outrage amid shifting control in northeastern Syria. The incident occurred as Damascus sought to assert authority in areas previously governed by the U.S.-backed SDF, leading to clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish units in the Raqqa region. The video prompted online protests and highlighted Kurdish fears regarding Syrian government control. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire on January 18th followed diplomatic efforts, including meetings between a U.S. envoy and Syrian and Kurdish leaders. While the ceasefire provides temporary relief, it postpones resolving the underlying dispute between Syria and the Kurds.

Syrians in the northeast are greeting a 15-day extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian military and the Kurdish-led SDF with cautious optimism. The extension, announced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, comes as government troops advance on remaining SDF strongholds, consolidating al-Sharaa's rule. The ceasefire offers a break from recent fighting that has disrupted Syria's recovery from a 14-year civil war. The government aims to use this time to establish a long-term ceasefire and focus on reconstruction, while the SDF is expected to develop a plan for integration with the army. The extension also supports a US operation to transfer ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq.

On January 25, 2026, Syria's government and the Kurdish-led SDF agreed to extend their existing ceasefire for 15 days. The agreement aims to reduce tensions in northeastern Syria and allow more time to implement a deal with Damascus. The extended truce is also intended to support US efforts to transfer thousands of ISIL prisoners out of Syria. The ceasefire extension provides a temporary reprieve in the ongoing conflict and facilitates further negotiations.

As a ceasefire deadline approached on January 24, 2026, pressure mounted on the Kurdish-led SDF to integrate its fighters into the Syrian army. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denied reports of an extension to the ceasefire agreement, which was reached earlier in the week. The Syrian army and the SDF agreed to a four-day ceasefire on Tuesday, after Kurdish fighters relinquished territory to government forces in northeast Syria. In recent weeks, government troops have seized territory from the SDF, consolidating President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rule and gaining control of key oil fields, hydroelectric dams, and facilities holding ISIL fighters. The al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa, holding thousands of ISIL fighters, is now under government control, as is the al-Hol camp housing suspected ISIL members.

Syrian government forces have taken control of the Al-Omar oilfield after Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from the Deir Ezzor countryside on Sunday. The withdrawal also included the Tanak oilfields and other areas under SDF control in Deir Ezzor and Raqa provinces. This advance occurred as local tribes and Arab fighters within the SDF coordinated with government troops. The Syrian government's move to assert authority follows a decree granting official recognition to the Kurds after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. However, the Kurdish administration has stated that the decree fell short of their expectations, and the integration of Kurdish forces into the state remains stalled.

Clashes erupted around two prisons in northeastern Syria on Monday, a day after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to transfer control of prisons holding approximately 8,000 Islamic State fighters to the Syrian government. The agreement aimed to end weeks of conflict between the SDF and the Syrian government, with the SDF integrating into the national military and ceding control of security infrastructure. However, the recent clashes near al-Shaddadi and al-Aqtan prisons highlight the fragility of the deal. The Syrian government accused the SDF of releasing ISIS detainees, while the SDF blamed armed groups affiliated with Damascus for attacking the prisons. Syrian officials claim to have regained control of al-Shaddadi prison and are working to rearrest the released prisoners.

Syria and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to an immediate nationwide ceasefire after two weeks of clashes. The agreement, announced by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, aims to integrate the SDF into Syria's military and state institutions and reassert government control over the northeastern governorates of al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa. Under the deal, Syrian authorities will take control of civilian institutions, border crossings, and oil fields previously managed by the SDF. In return, Damascus pledged to recognize Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, including official language status and national holiday recognition. The agreement, brokered with the help of the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, follows a previous failed integration effort and recent Syrian government advances into SDF-held territory.

In Damascus, Syria, a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was announced on January 18, sparking jubilation among residents. The ceasefire was seen as a potential solution to one of the country's major divisions since President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in 2011. However, fighting resumed the next morning after the SDF leader accepted less favorable terms, including withdrawing from Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, and integrating into state structures within four days. Residents express frustration towards the SDF, viewing it as an occupying force backed by foreign powers. The SDF's role in fighting ISIS has shifted to being seen as a parallel authority. As the deadline approaches, anger towards the SDF grows, with some residents calling for its removal from the country.

On January 18, 2026, the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to a cease-fire and a full integration of the SDF into the national military. This agreement follows weeks of intermittent clashes and significant territorial gains by government forces in SDF-held areas, weakening the Kurdish militia's position. As part of the 14-point deal, the SDF will cede control of the Raqqa and Deir al Zour provinces to the government, leaving them with only the Hasakah province. Government institutions will also assume authority in the Kurdish-dominated northeastern region, and the government will take control of all gas and oil fields, which were previously largely under SDF control.

Approximately 1,500 Islamic State (ISIS) members escaped from Shaddadi prison in Syria on Monday, according to a Kurdish website report. The Syrian army accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of releasing the prisoners. The prison break occurred a day after a deal between the Syrian government and the SDF was announced, but the agreement appears to be faltering. Clashes erupted between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters around two prisons in northeast Syria housing ISIS members, resulting in casualties for the SDF. The SDF issued a call for recruits to resist what they claim is Turkish-directed ISIS resurgence.

The Syrian military accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday of allowing IS-linked detainees to escape from the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. The al-Hol camp houses thousands of individuals associated with the Islamic State group. The accusation comes after Syrian government troops and allied tribal forces took control of Raqqa from the SDF last Sunday. The SDF, backed by the U.S., had been securing roads leading to Gweiran Prison in Hassakeh, which houses men accused of being ISIS fighters, as of Monday. The specific reasons behind the alleged abandonment and escape remain unclear.

Western officials are concerned about the deteriorating security situation in north-east Syria and the potential re-emergence of ISIS militants following recent shifts in control. The US military has moved 150 ISIS fighters from a prison in Hasakah province to Iraq, with plans to relocate up to 7,000. Recent advances by Syrian government forces and a fragile ceasefire have resulted in prisons holding ISIS fighters and camps housing ISIS women and children changing hands, leading to chaotic conditions. Reports indicate that some detainees may have escaped, raising anxieties in Europe. Humanitarian organizations have been unable to access the al-Hawl camp, home to over 20,000 women and children, since Sunday, increasing concerns about instability.

In January 2026, the Syrian army launched a military operation against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo, citing SDF's use of the area for attacks. The strikes followed deadly clashes in Aleppo stemming from delays in integrating the SDF into the Syrian state, as agreed in a March 2025 deal. In response to the military action and calls from mediators, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi announced the withdrawal of his forces east of the Euphrates River, starting January 17th, as a commitment to the stalled agreement. The recent fighting in Aleppo resulted in numerous casualties and the displacement of over 150,000 people from SDF-held areas. Syrian President al-Sharaa also issued a decree regarding Kurdish rights.

Following a withdrawal of Kurdish forces, the Syrian army is moving into areas east of Aleppo, including the town of Deir Hafer. The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to redeploy east of the Euphrates River after talks with US officials and a pledge from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recognize Kurdish as a national language. The Syrian army declared it had established full military control of Deir Hafer and urged civilians to avoid the area until it is secured. While the redeployment aims to ease tensions, disagreements remain, with the Kurdish administration calling for permanent constitutional rights and both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. US special envoy Tom Barrack is scheduled to meet with Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi to further discuss the situation.

Syrian government troops advanced into Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria on Saturday, seizing towns and sparking clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The advance raises concerns about a potential government push towards Raqqa, the largest city administered by Kurdish authorities. This escalation follows stalled negotiations between the Kurds and the Syrian government regarding the integration of Kurdish institutions. The renewed fighting has prompted Washington to urge restraint, fearing a broader conflict that could destabilize efforts against ISIS and endanger U.S. troops in the region. The advance occurred after Kurdish fighters withdrew from positions east of Aleppo following a Syrian presidential decree affirming the rights of Kurdish Syrians, an attempt to ease tensions. Both sides are now accusing each other of instigating the renewed conflict.

In January 2026, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree granting new rights to Kurds, marking the first formal recognition of Kurdish national rights since 1946. The decree recognizes Kurdish as a national language alongside Arabic, allows Kurdish language instruction in schools, and restores citizenship to Kurdish Syrians stripped of it in a 1962 census. It also declares Newroz a national holiday and bans ethnic discrimination. The decree follows recent clashes in Aleppo between Kurdish fighters and the Syrian army, which resulted in casualties and displacement. While the Kurdish administration in northern Syria acknowledged the decree as a first step, they stated it does not fully satisfy the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on Friday affirming the rights of Kurdish Syrians following deadly clashes between government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo. The decree recognizes Kurdish as a national language and adopts Nowruz as an official holiday. Al-Sharaa also called for citizenship to be granted to Kurds stripped of it in 1962. The announcement comes after stalled negotiations to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (S.D.F.) into the national military, leading to recent fighting that killed at least 24 civilians. Tensions remain high as government troops amassed outside S.D.F.-held areas in eastern Aleppo.