Clashes reported after Syria and Kurdish-led SDF agree ceasefire

[ad_1] David Gritten and

Rachel Hagan

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4160/live/f72595c0-f536-11f0-b385-5f48925de19a.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Syrian men celebrate from a car covered with a Syrian flag following a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Raqqa, northern Syria (19 January 2026)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters Syria's military and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia alliance have reported contemporary clashes within the nation's north-east, a day after a ceasefire deal introduced a lot of the autonomous area below authorities management.

The 14-point settlement signed on Sunday, which is able to see the SDF withdraw from Raqqa and Deir al-Zour provinces after which be built-in into state establishments, was supposed to finish nearly two weeks of preventing.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa mentioned he hoped it could enable Syria to "finish its state of division and transfer to a state of unity and progress".

SDF commander Mazlum Abdi mentioned the preventing had been "imposed on us" and that he had accepted the deal "to cease the bloodshed".

Abdi added that he would clarify the phrases after getting back from Damascus, the place he was anticipated to fly on Monday for talks on implementation.

It seems to be a serious blow for the SDF, which had been reluctant to surrender the autonomy it received for Syria's Kurdish minority when serving to US-led forces defeat the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) through the nation's 13-year civil conflict.

Sharaa has vowed to reunify Syria since he led the insurgent offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, however the nation stays deeply divided and has been rocked by a number of waves of lethal sectarian violence.

On Monday, Syrian authorities forces superior deep into northern and japanese areas beforehand managed by the SDF.

Within the afternoon, the military introduced that it had entered Shaddadi, in Hassakeh province, following what it alleged was the SDF's choice to launch quite a few detained IS members from the city's jail, in accordance with state information company Sana.

The military mentioned it had contacted mediators and the SDF to debate an organised handover of the jail, however that the SDF's management had "refused". Troopers wouldn't take the mandatory measures to revive safety and apprehend the escapees, it added.

The SDF mentioned Shaddadi jail had "fallen outdoors the management of our forces" following repeated assaults by "factions affiliated with Damascus" because the early hours of the day. Dozens of SDF fighters had been killed as they tried "to stop a critical safety disaster", it added.

The SDF additionally reported that clashes have been persevering with round one other jail holding IS members, al-Aqtan in Raqqa, the place it mentioned 9 of its fighters had been killed.

Earlier, the military mentioned three troopers had been killed in two assaults by "terrorist teams" within the north-eastern Jazira area. It alleged that members of the Kurdistan Staff' Get together (PKK), which fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for many years and has a long-running affiliation with the SDF, have been trying to disrupt the ceasefire and "remnants of the previous regime".

The inside ministry additionally mentioned its forces had begun deploying to Deir al-Zour province as "a part of a broader safety plan aimed toward defending civilians and property".

Dozens of presidency navy autos have been seen crossing a bridge to the japanese financial institution of the River Euphrates together with automobiles, lorries and bikes.

Safia Keddo, a 49-year-old trainer who was making her manner on foot, instructed AFP information company: "The previous few years have been very tough... At this time we should flip the web page".

"We would like youngsters to return to highschool with out concern, and for electrical energy, water, and bread to be restored. We're not asking for a miracle; we simply need stability and a traditional life."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d7cb/live/2ad824e0-f498-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa in a navy suit, pale blue tie and white shirt holding up a physical copy of the agreement " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Pictures President Ahmed al-Sharaa mentioned the deal would enable Syrian state establishments to enter all areas and handle their affairs

On Sunday night, the federal government and SDF agreed a direct ceasefire on all fronts throughout the nation, which the president hailed as a "victory for all Syrians".

"The Syrian state is unified and centralised in decision-making, and its establishments will enter all Syrian territories and handle all regional affairs," Sharaa instructed a information convention, in accordance with Sana. "In areas with particular traits, safety personnel shall be appointed from native residents."

He additionally urged Arab tribes residing in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour to "preserve calm and permit the implementation of the settlement".

Earlier than he left for Damascus, the SDF's commander mentioned it had accepted a ceasefire settlement following an "intense conflict" wherein lots of its fighters had been killed or wounded since 6 January.

"This conflict was imposed on us. We needed to stop it, however sadly, as a result of it was deliberate by many forces, it was imposed on us," Abdi mentioned in a press release on Kurdish TV.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/309d/live/2673fca0-f536-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA A Syrian soldier stands at al-Omar oil field following the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from Deir al-Zour province, Syria (19 January 2026)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA Syrian safety forces took management of the al-Omar oil discipline after the SDF withdrew

In line with Sana, the deal stipulates that the SDF will instantly hand over administrative and navy management of Deir al-Zour and Raqqa provinces to the federal government, together with all civilian establishments and services.

It says the federal government will take management of all border crossings, oil and gasoline fields, and prisons and camps the place captured IS fighters and their members of the family and different affiliated civilians are detained.

It additionally says that the SDF's navy and safety forces will withdraw to Hassakeh province, the place they are going to be totally built-in into the ministries of defence and inside "on an 'particular person' foundation" - not as separate Kurdish items, because the SDF had demanded.

The settlement additionally welcomes a decree issued by the president on Friday which recognised Syrian Kurds as an "integral and authentic" element of the Syrian folks.

The decree affirmed their cultural, linguistic and civil rights, together with designating Kurdish as a nationwide language, which is able to enable its educating at faculties in Kurdish-majority areas, granting Syrian nationality to stateless Kurds, and declaring the Nowruz spring pageant as a paid nationwide vacation.

The settlement additionally commits the SDF to expelling all non-Syrian members of the PKK and reaffirms Syria's participation within the US-led coalition in opposition to IS.

US particular envoy Tom Barrack mentioned the deal represented "a pivotal inflection level, the place former adversaries embrace partnership over division".

"The difficult work of finalising the small print of a complete integration settlement begins now, and america stands firmly behind this course of at each stage - as we safeguard our important nationwide safety pursuits in defeating [IS] remnants and advance President Trump's daring Center East Peace Plan," he added.

The settlement adopted months of stalled negotiations over a March 2025 integration deal, which each side had accused one another of attempting to derail.