According to the BBC, the deal comes after weeks of intense clashes during which Syrian troops reclaimed large swathes of northeastern territory that had been under SDF control for more than a decade. The agreement mirrors a fragile 14-point ceasefire reached earlier in January following major territorial losses for the Kurdish-led forces, though sporadic fighting had continued despite that truce, the BBC reports.
The SDF announced via its press center, as reported by ANF, that the agreement includes the formation of a military division consisting of three brigades made of its members, alongside provisions for SDF forces to withdraw from points of contact with government troops. ANF reports that the deal also mandates the integration of the SDF's administrative and civil bodies into state institutions, with current personnel retained in their positions, while the BBC notes that members will join the Syrian army and government administrative bodies.
The agreement encompasses significant civil provisions, according to both the BBC and ANF. The SDF stated on X, as cited by the BBC, that an agreement on civil and educational rights for Kurdish people was reached, as well as a guarantee that displaced persons would be allowed to return home. This follows a historic decree by Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa—who led the rebel offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December 2024—recognizing Kurdish as a national language, granting nationality to stateless Kurds, and declaring the Kurdish new year a national holiday. The BBC notes this marks the first formal recognition of Kurdish national rights since Syria's independence in 1946.
Strategically, the BBC reports that the deal includes the transfer of prisons holding suspected Islamic State fighters, as well as oil and gas fields, to Damascus. Syrian troops have already seized control of the Omar facility, the country's largest oil field, and the strategic Tabqa dam on the Euphrates river following SDF withdrawals, according to the BBC.
International leaders have welcomed the breakthrough. US envoy Tom Barrack described the agreement to the BBC as "a profound and historic milestone in Syria's journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability." Meanwhile, ANF reports that French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on X to support the "complete implementation" of the deal, stating it aligns with France's vision of "a sovereign, united and stable Syria" that respects all its components.
Regional Kurdish leadership has also responded positively while emphasizing the need for constitutional protections. According to ANF, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Mesrur Barzani expressed hope that the agreement would be expanded to bring "peace, greater freedom, stability, and progress" to all of Syria, while President Nechirvan Barzani stressed to ANF that Kurdish rights must be constitutionally guaranteed.
The agreement represents the most dramatic shift in Syria's territorial control since the end of the 13-year civil war, fulfilling President Sharaa's vow to reunify the divided nation. The BBC notes that the Kurds had previously controlled nearly one-third of Syrian territory with US support following their pivotal role in defeating the Islamic State group. This integration deal follows months of stalled negotiations over a March 2025 agreement that both sides had previously accused each other of undermining, according to the BBC.