Thousands of Kurds gathered in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on Sunday to show support for a new agreement between Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government. The deal, set to take effect Monday, outlines the gradual integration of Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state. It follows weeks of territorial concessions by Kurdish forces to advancing government troops and aims to maintain a ceasefire in the region.
Under the agreement, some oil fields, border crossings, and the Qamishli airport will be transferred to government control within ten days. Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will be integrated individually into new brigades under the Syrian army’s command. Both sides will withdraw from frontline positions in key Kurdish-held towns, while limited internal security forces will operate in parts of Hasakah and Qamishli.
**Why this matters:**
This agreement marks a significant shift in the status of Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria, ending years of de facto autonomy established during the civil war. It reflects a move by the Syrian government to reassert control over the region, which had been supported by Kurdish forces and a US-led coalition in the fight against ISIS. The integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian army signals a new phase in the country’s ongoing conflict and governance.
Source: NewsData