Syrian Government, Kurdish Forces Edge Back From Brink as Ceasefire Deadline Looms
QAMISHLI, Syria – Syrian government troops and Kurdish-led forces remained poised for potential conflict Saturday, as a deadline for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate with the Syrian army approached, though indications suggest a possible extension. The standoff raises concerns about regional stability and the fate of thousands of detained Islamic State fighters.
The Syrian government, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has made significant territorial gains in northern and eastern Syria over the past two weeks, consolidating its control after ousting Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Al-Sharaa’s forces had been advancing on key Kurdish-held cities – Qamishli, Hasakeh, and Kobane – when a ceasefire was unexpectedly announced earlier this week, demanding the SDF’s integration into the Syrian army by Saturday evening.
While the deadline initially appeared firm, both Syrian officials and Kurdish security sources now suggest a likely extension of several days, potentially up to a week. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated Friday that extending the ceasefire was “on the agenda,” citing ongoing transfers of Islamic State prisoners as a contributing factor. Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization.
The current crisis is the culmination of escalating tensions over the past year, fueled by al-Sharaa’s determination to bring all of Syria under central government control. Kurdish authorities, who have maintained autonomous institutions in the northeast for a decade, have resisted integration with al-Sharaa’s Islamist-led government.
The recent Syrian offensive swiftly captured two Arab-majority provinces, securing control of vital oil fields, hydroelectric dams, and facilities holding Islamic State fighters and their families. This has prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity, with the United States and France urging al-Sharaa to refrain from further military action in remaining Kurdish-held areas.
Diplomatic sources reveal concerns that renewed fighting could trigger widespread abuses against Kurdish civilians. Government-affiliated forces were implicated in the deaths of nearly 1,500 Alawite minority members and hundreds of Druze last year, including reports of execution-style killings, raising fears of similar atrocities.
Adding to the complexity, the U.S. military is actively transferring hundreds of detained Islamic State fighters from Syrian prisons to Iraq. This move has prompted a response from Baghdad, with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein appealing to the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, to share the “security and financial burdens” associated with the prisoner transfers.
“Iraq cannot shoulder this responsibility alone,” Hussein stated in a Saturday phone call, highlighting the regional implications of the situation.
The United States, which previously partnered with the SDF in the fight against Islamic State, is now engaged in shuttle diplomacy to secure a lasting ceasefire and facilitate the SDF’s integration into the Syrian state under al-Sharaa’s leadership. However, the path forward remains uncertain, with the potential for renewed conflict looming large.
The situation in northern Syria is being closely monitored by international observers, who fear a further destabilization of the region and a potential resurgence of Islamic State. The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for the future of Syria and the broader geopolitical landscape.
[Image of Popular Mobilization Forces along the Syria-Iraq border – AFP/The Hindu]