Syria's leader agrees truce deal with Kurds after government troops advance
Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, January 18, 2026. OMAR ALBAM / AP Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday, January 18 announced a deal with the chief of Kurdish-led forces that includes a ceasefire, after government troops advanced across Kurdish-held areas of the country's North and East. The agreement, which will also see the Kurdish administration and forces integrate into the state, marks a blow for the minority, which has long held ambitions of preserving the de facto autonomy they had exercised over areas they held for over a decade. It comes after deadly clashes in the Syrian city of Raqqa on Sunday between Kurdish-led forces and local fighters loyal to Damascus. The deal follows months of stalled negotiations between authorities and the Kurds on integrating their administration and forces into the central government. Sharaa announced the ceasefire to reporters on Sunday, saying he had been scheduled to meet the chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, but it was postponed until Monday due to poor weather. "In order to calm the situation, we decided to sign the agreement," Sharaa said. Government forces this weekend captured the strategic city of Tabqa in the Raqqa region as well as the Euphrates Dam, and have advanced into parts of Deir Ezzor province, including the Al-Omar oil field, the country's largest. That followed advances in Aleppo province. Clashes reached Raqa city on Sunday, with state media saying SDF gunfire killed two civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor meanwhile reported fighting between the SDF and "local Arab tribal fighters" there. Sharaa met in Damascus on Sunday with US envoy Tom Barrack, who called the deal with the Kurds a "pivotal inflection point." Partner service Learn French with Gymglish Thanks to a daily lesson, an original story and a personalized correction, in 15 minutes per day. Try for free Help us improve Le Monde in English Dear reader, We’d love to hear your thoughts on Le Monde in English! Take this quick survey to help us improve it for you. Take the survey New Le Monde’s app Get the most out of your experience: download the app to enjoy Le Monde in English anywhere, anytime Download The Syrian presidency published the text of the 14-point agreement, which includes integrating the SDF and Kurdish security forces into Syria's defense and interior ministries and the immediate handover of Kurdish-run Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces to the government. It will also see Damascus take responsibility for Islamic State group prisoners and their families held in Kurdish-run jails and camps. Sharaa had on Friday issued a decree granting the Kurds official recognition, but the Kurds said the announcement fell short of their expectations. On the ground, an AFP correspondent on Raqqa's outskirts reported hearing gunfire on Sunday and said government forces brought reinforcements and were combing parts of the city. 'Opening the door' The SDF suddenly withdrew "from all areas under its control in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, including the Al-Omar and Tanak oil fields," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He said the movements in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces came as "fighters from local tribes, including Arab fighters who are part of the SDF, advanced in coordination with government troops." The government has also said it retook the Safyan and Al-Tharwa oil fields in Raqqa province. Its push has captured Arab-majority areas that came under Kurdish control during the fight against IS. Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said the return of the area's resources to state control "means opening the door wide for reconstruction, revitalizing agriculture, energy and trade." The army has also announced its control of the Euphrates Dam near Tabqa, a key water and energy facility that includes one of Syria's largest hydroelectric power stations. 'Killing must stop' Deir Ezzor province said all public institutions were closed on Sunday and urged people to stay home. The Kurdish forces' withdrawal came after Barrack met Syrian Kurdish leader Abdi in Erbil on Saturday, and the US Central Command urged government forces "to cease any offensive actions" between Aleppo and Tabqa. The United States has long supported the Kurdish forces, but it also backs Syria's new Islamist authorities. In Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in Syria's Northeast, hundreds of residents demonstrated Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, chanting slogans including "we will defend our heroes." Le Monde with AFP
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