Key Provisions of the Agreement
The ten-point ceasefire and integration accord signed by President al-Sharaa and SDF Commander Mazlum Abdi establishes an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts and contact lines between Syrian government forces and SDF fighters. The agreement mandates withdrawal of military formations belonging to "Qasad" (the Arabic acronym for SDF) to the eastern Euphrates region as a preliminary step toward redeployment. Administrative and military control of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces will be transferred immediately and completely to the Syrian government, while all civilian institutions in Haseke province will be integrated into central state structures.
The accord also addresses critical economic and security elements. All military and security positions for "Qasad" forces will be merged into the Syrian state's defense and internal security apparatus, conducted in coordination with international partners to ensure regional stability and security. Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, issued January 16, addresses cultural and civil rights by recognizing Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights and processing legal and civil matters for residents, including restoring property rights accumulated from previous covenants.
Ceasefire Provisions and Territorial Control
Under the agreement, Syrian government forces will assume control of all border crossings, oil fields, and strategic infrastructure in the northeastern regions. The deal requires SDF forces to withdraw leaders, ranks, and positions from areas north of the Euphrates to regions designated for redeployment. Energy resources and all border checkpoints will transition to state control, ensuring the Syrian government's authority over critical economic assets.
US Mediation and Regional Dialogue
The ceasefire announcement coincided with President al-Sharaa's meeting with US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack in Damascus on January 18. The discussion emphasized Syria's territorial unity and sovereignty, the importance of dialogue during the current transition phase, and continued coordination to combat terrorism. Al-Sharaa revealed that a planned meeting with Mazlum Abdi was postponed to the following day due to weather conditions, stating that "all issues related to the SDF will be resolved" and that "state institutions will enter the three eastern and northeastern provinces".
Implementation and Security Commitments
The agreement designates Haseke as a guarantor position for political participation and proportional representation through a presidential decree appointing candidates to serve as provincial governors. Syrian government forces will manage the administration responsible for prisons and detention centers housing Daesh-affiliated individuals, with coordinated protection of facilities guarding these detainees in partnership with the United States. A comprehensive merger of ISIS/Al-Qaeda detention files, prisons, and affiliated organizations under Daesh management will ensure Syrian government assumes full legal and security responsibility.
This landmark agreement builds upon a previous integration deal signed in March 2025 between al-Sharaa and Abdi, which aimed to merge SDF civil and military institutions into the government by year's end. The January 2026 accord provides detailed implementation mechanisms following renewed tensions and clashes in northeastern Syria earlier in the month.