DAMASCUS, 20 Jan. - (ANA) - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have agreed to cede control of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces to the Syrian government, Syria's state news agency Sana reported, after the army made rapid advances into the two eastern provinces. 

 

In another major concession, the SDF will also merge with the country’s new military, but not as a single unit, according to the text of the agreement published by Sana. 

 

 

 

Syria's government and the SDF engaged in months of talks last year to bring Kurdish-run military and civilian bodies under Syrian state institutions by the end of 2025. 

 

But after the deadline passed with little progress, clashes broke out and grew into a government offensive on Kurdish-held areas. Sunday's agreement said the clashes should end.

 

On Friday, Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara issued a decree affirming the rights of Kurdish ?Syrians, formally recognising their language ?and restoring citizenship to the country's largest minority community. 

 

The decree also declares Nowruz, the spring ?and new ‌year festival, a paid national holiday. It grants, for the first time, Kurdish Syrians rights, including recognition of Kurdish identity as part of Syria's national fabric. Read about how the move mirrors the rights of Iraqi Kurds.

 

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‍discussed the latest developments in ‍Syria with President Al Shara in a phone call on Sunday, Mr Erdogan's ?office said. The ceasefire and integration agreement reached between Syria's government and the SDF was seen as a victory for Turkey. 

 

Ankara views the SDF as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has been disarming. The PKK fought Turkey for more than four decades in pursuit of Kurdish autonomy inside Turkey before entering into a shaky truce with Ankara last year.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/20 January 2026 - - -