Syria and Kurdish forces extend ceasefire by 15 days amid rising tensions

The agreement comes as US and French officials push for stability while transferring Islamic State detainees to Iraq

i24NEWS
i24NEWS
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Soldiers of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds and supported by the United States, are deploying to secure the roads leading to a prison housing ISIS terrorists in northeastern Syria on January 19, 2026.
Soldiers of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds and supported by the United States, are deploying to secure the roads leading to a prison housing ISIS terrorists in northeastern Syria on January 19, 2026.AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad

A four-day ceasefire between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which expired on Saturday night, has been extended by 15 days, officials from both sides said, providing a temporary respite amid rising tensions in northeast Syria.

The extension, effective from 11 PM local time, was announced by Syria’s defense ministry to support an ongoing US operation transferring Islamic State detainees from Syrian prisons into Iraq. The SDF confirmed the agreement was reached through international mediation, while dialogue with Damascus continues.

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The ceasefire follows recent advances by government troops, who seized swathes of northern and eastern territory from the SDF in the past two weeks, consolidating control under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Sharaa had initially given SDF forces until Saturday to lay down arms or face renewed fighting.

The US has been conducting shuttle diplomacy to establish a lasting ceasefire and facilitate the integration of the SDF, which was Washington’s main partner in Syria for years, into the state led by Sharaa. Senior US and French officials reportedly warned Sharaa against sending troops into remaining Kurdish-held areas to avoid potential mass abuses against civilians.

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As tensions escalated ahead of the Saturday deadline, SDF forces reinforced positions in Qamishli, Hasakeh, and Kobane. Kurdish security sources indicated the buildup was precautionary amid fears of renewed conflict.

The offensive earlier this month marked the culmination of a year of rising tensions. Sharaa, whose forces toppled Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, aims to bring all of Syria under state control, while Kurdish authorities have resisted merging their autonomous civilian and military institutions into Sharaa’s administration.

With key oil fields, hydroelectric dams, and facilities holding Islamic State detainees now under government control, the 15-day ceasefire offers a brief pause. The situation remains fragile, and the international community continues to monitor developments closely.

READ MORE:

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• US moves ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq

• Northeast Syrian Kurds fear freed ISIS detainees approaching SDF areas

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