A "comprehensive agreement" between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has been reached that will allow for the gradual integration of SDF forces into the Syrian military and security forces, both sides announced on Friday.
The deal comes following the recapture of parts of northern and eastern Syria by Syrian government forces from the SDF earlier this month, forcing the Kurdish militia to retreat into a shrinking enclave. The northeast was previously under the de facto control of Kurdish forces and operated with semi-autonomy.
Over the past two weeks, the SDF has lost large, resource-rich territories that it acquired with US support during the civil war.
Fighting had escalated sharply in north-eastern Syria on Thursday, with at least 10 members of the SDF killed in government attacks to cut off the group's supply lines and squeeze it further into a pocket near Turkey.
The escalation occurred as US envoy Tom Barrack met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. Neither side revealed the content of their talks. Turkey is the main regional backer of the government of Mr Al Shara and wants the SDF to be dismantled. The group's demise would enhance Turkey's role in Syria and strengthen the domestic position of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The SDF has been the most powerful rival of the central government that replaced Bashar Al Assad's regime after Mr Al Shara led rebels into Damascus in December 2024. The SDF's importance as a US ally has diminished since then.
